Apple to Pay $95 Million to Settle Siri Privacy Lawsuit

Apple has reached a proposed settlement of $95 million to resolve allegations that its Siri digital assistant improperly recorded private conversations. The settlement, filed in court documents, highlights privacy concerns while Apple continues to deny any wrongdoing.

Details of the Apple Siri Privacy Lawsuit

The class-action lawsuit, filed five years ago, accused Siri of “listening in” on private conversations through unintended activations on devices such as iPhones, iPads, and HomePods. Plaintiffs claimed that these recordings were obtained by Apple and potentially shared with third parties.

Apple, known for promoting user privacy as a cornerstone of its brand, has firmly denied the allegations. In the proposed settlement, Apple stated:

“Apple has at all times denied and continues to deny any and all alleged wrongdoing and liability.”

The tech giant emphasized its commitment to maintaining privacy within its tightly controlled hardware and software ecosystem.

Settlement Terms

The $95 million settlement fund will provide compensation to eligible U.S. device owners, offering up to $20 per Siri-enabled device involved in the case. Additionally, the agreement requires Apple to:

• Confirm the deletion of any recorded conversations captured through unintended Siri activation.
• Clarify user choices regarding voice data used to enhance Siri’s functionality.

These measures aim to address concerns about unauthorized data collection and ensure transparency moving forward.

Broader Context

Apple’s settlement follows a similar privacy case involving Amazon in 2023. The e-commerce giant agreed to pay over $30 million to the U.S. Federal Trade Commission for privacy violations related to its Ring doorbell cameras and Alexa digital assistant.

This trend underscores the increasing scrutiny faced by tech companies over how they handle user data, particularly with voice-activated technologies.

Source

Pokdepinion: The settlement, pending approval by a judge, reinforces the importance of user privacy in the tech industry. It also serves as a reminder for companies to prioritize transparent practices regarding data collection.