12.02.2025 08:58:00
Дата публикации
Apple has agreed to pay $95 million to settle a class-action lawsuit alleging that its Siri voice assistant recorded private conversations without users’ consent. These recordings were allegedly used for targeted advertising.
The settlement does not acknowledge wrongdoing, but Apple admits that Siri may have been activated unintentionally without the "Hey Siri" command. This could happen when an Apple Watch was raised, triggering Siri. Some users noticed receiving targeted ads after mentioning certain products.
The issue surfaced in 2019 when a leak revealed that Siri had recorded private conversations, including medical discussions, business negotiations, and personal talks. Plaintiffs claimed these recordings included user location and contact details.
Apple maintains that Siri data was never used for advertising or shared with third parties. In 2019, the company enhanced its privacy settings to prevent Siri recordings from being stored.
The settlement allows users who purchased Siri-enabled Apple devices between September 17, 2014, and December 31, 2024, to claim compensation of up to $20 per device (maximum five devices per user).
Eligible devices include:
- iPhone
- iPad
- Apple Watch
- MacBook
- HomePod
- iPod touch
- Apple TV
Claims can be submitted once the court approves the settlement. A final hearing is scheduled for February 14.
If approved, Apple will notify affected users and ensure that all unintended recordings are permanently deleted.
Lawyers settled the case to avoid prolonged litigation, as proving each instance of accidental recording could have been challenging. Additionally, a court ruling could have reduced the number of affected users, lowering potential payouts.
Apple avoided a massive fine, as losing in court could have resulted in over $1.5 billion in penalties under the Wiretap Act. Due to legal uncertainties, plaintiffs opted for a settlement.
(the text translation was done automatically)
