Apple has agreed to pay $95 million to settle allegations that its virtual assistant Siri was used to eavesdrop on iPhone and other device users, contradicting its publicly stated commitment to privacy protection.
On Thursday, the U.S. District Court in Oakland, California, announced the resolution of a five-year-old lawsuit. The suit alleged that Apple secretly recorded conversations through Siri-enabled iPhones and other devices for over a decade.
These recordings reportedly occurred even when users did not activate Siri with the “Hey Siri” command. Advertisers allegedly shared some conversations with consumers to target them with personalized product recommendations.
Apple has denied any wrongdoing. The settlement is still pending approval from U.S. District Judge Jeffrey White.
Attorneys involved in the case have proposed a court hearing in Oakland on February 14 to review the settlement terms.
The eavesdropping allegations directly challenge Apple’s long-standing emphasis on customer privacy, which CEO Tim Cook often describes as a fundamental human right.
If approved, the settlement could benefit millions of consumers who owned Siri-enabled iPhones and other Apple devices from September 17, 2014, through the end of 2024.
Eligible consumers may receive up to $20 per affected device, though payouts could vary depending on the number of claims filed. Court documents estimate that only 3-5% of eligible consumers will likely submit claims.
Claims are limited to a maximum of five devices per eligible consumer.
Apple shares closed at $243.85, reflecting a 2.62% decline.
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