Apple to Pay $95M to Settle Siri Privacy Lawsuit

Apple to Pay $95 Million in Siri Privacy Lawsuit Settlement Apple Inc. will pay $95 million to settle a class-action lawsuit alleging that its virtual assistant, Siri, secretly recorded users' private conversations. The settlement, reached in a California court, covers users who owned Siri-enabled devices between September 17, 2014, and December 31, 2024. Eligible users can claim up to $20 per device, for a maximum of five devices. The deadline to file a claim is July 2, 2025, with final approval scheduled for August 1, 2025. The lawsuit, initially filed in 2021 by Fumiko Lopez and several other plaintiffs, cited a whistleblower's report in The Guardian that revealed Siri's alleged unauthorized recordings. Plaintiffs provided examples of receiving targeted ads after private conversations, suggesting a potential link between the recordings and marketing practices. While Apple denied storing recordings after 2019 and using them for marketing, the settlement suggests a willingness to resolve the controversy. The $95 million settlement represents a small fraction of Apple's overall revenue, highlighting the significant legal and reputational risks associated with data privacy violations. The settlement provides a measure of closure for affected users, and serves as a reminder of the importance of protecting personal data in the digital age. The case underscores the ongoing debate surrounding the ethical implications of voice assistants and data collection practices by technology companies.