Apple reached a USD 95 million cash settlement in a proposed class-action lawsuit alleging that its voice-activated assistant, Siri, violated users' privacy by recording conversations without consent.

 

The lawsuit claims that iPhone users experienced unauthorized recordings after unintentionally activating Siri and that these recordings were shared with third parties, including advertisers, The Guardian reported.

 

The preliminary settlement was submitted to a federal court in Oakland, California, and is pending approval from US District Judge Jeffrey White. The lawsuit highlights concerns from users who reported that Siri was triggered by everyday conversations, leading to targeted advertisements.

 

For example, two plaintiffs noted that discussions about Air Jordan sneakers and Olive Garden restaurants resulted in related ads appearing. Another plaintiff reported receiving ads for a surgical treatment brand after discussing it privately with his doctor.

 

According to the lawsuit, the alleged privacy violations occurred from Sept. 17, 2014, to Dec. 31, 2024. The issues began with the introduction of the "Hey, Siri" feature, which plaintiffs claim led to unauthorized recordings. It is estimated that tens of millions of class members could receive compensation of up to USD 20 for each Siri-enabled device they own, such as iPhones and Apple Watches.

 

While Apple agreed to the settlement, it denied any wrongdoing. The company has consistently emphasized its commitment to user privacy.

 

In 2018, Apple CEO Tim Cook criticized other tech firms for prioritizing profits over privacy, stating, “[t]he desire to put profits over privacy is nothing new.” Additionally, Apple contended in a 2018 letter to Congress that iPhones do not “listen” to users unless prompted by the wake word “Hey Siri.”

 

However, a 2019 report by The Guardian, cited in the original complaint, revealed that an Apple whistleblower disclosed that contractors often overheard private conversations while conducting quality checks on Siri. These recordings included sensitive medical discussions, drug deals, and private moments between couples. The whistleblower noted that some recordings occurred by mistake, as Siri could misinterpret sounds, such as a zipper, as the activation command.

 

At that time, Apple stated that only a “small portion” of Siri requests are reviewed for quality assurance and that these requests are not linked to users’ Apple IDs. The company insisted that Siri interactions are analyzed in secure environments and that all reviewers must adhere to strict confidentiality protocols. In response to these concerns, Apple later paused its quality improvement program and ceased default audio recordings.

 

As of Thursday, Apple and its legal team had not responded to requests for comments. Similarly, the plaintiffs’ attorneys did not provide immediate responses. The legal team may seek up to USD 28.5 million in fees, along with USD 1.1 million for expenses from the settlement fund.

 

The USD 95 million settlement represents only a small fraction of Apple’s profits, which reached USD 93.74 billion in its most recent fiscal year, equating to about nine hours of profit.

 

In a related development, a similar lawsuit against Google’s Voice Assistant is currently pending in federal court in San Jose, California, also within the same district as the Oakland court. The plaintiffs in this case are represented by the same law firms involved in the Apple lawsuit.