Apple has agreed to a $95 million settlement to resolve a lawsuit alleging the company’s virtual assistant, Siri, was used to eavesdrop on users of iPhones and other devices, despite its public emphasis on protecting customer privacy.
The proposed settlement, filed on Tuesday in a federal court in Oakland, California, seeks to conclude a five-year legal battle involving accusations that Apple secretly enabled Siri to record conversations through its devices over the past decade.
The lawsuit claimed that Siri occasionally activated without the user’s prompt—typically the phrase “Hey, Siri”—and recorded conversations. Some of these recordings were allegedly shared with advertisers to facilitate targeted marketing based on consumer preferences.
These allegations conflict with Apple’s longstanding claims of safeguarding user privacy, a principle frequently championed by CEO Tim Cook as a “fundamental human right.”
Without admitting any wrongdoing, Apple has agreed to the settlement terms, which remain subject to approval by U.S. District Judge Jeffrey White. A court hearing to review the terms has been tentatively scheduled for 14 February in Oakland.
If approved, the settlement would allow consumers who owned Siri-enabled Apple devices between 17 September 2014 and the end of 2023 to file claims. Eligible individuals may receive up to $20 per device, capped at a maximum of five devices per claimant. The final amount may vary based on the number of claims submitted, with court documents estimating a participation rate of just 3% to 5% of eligible consumers.
The settlement sum represents a minuscule portion of the $705 billion in profits Apple has reportedly amassed since 2014. It is also significantly less than the $1.5 billion the plaintiffs’ legal team had estimated Apple could owe if the case proceeded to trial and resulted in a verdict against the company for alleged wiretapping and privacy law violations.
Legal representatives involved in the lawsuit may seek up to $29.6 million from the settlement fund to cover attorneys’ fees and other related expenses.
Frances Ibiefo
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