Apple reaches a $95 million settlement in a privacy lawsuit concerning Siri, denying any confession of wrongdoing.
Apple Settles Privacy Lawsuit Over Siri Recordings for $95-$96 Million
Apple has agreed to pay a settlement of $95-$96 million to resolve a class-action lawsuit that accused the tech giant of recording users' conversations without consent through its Siri voice assistant. The lawsuit, Lopez v. Apple, was filed in 2019 following revelations that contractors listened to some Siri recordings, sometimes even when users never said "Hey Siri."
Settlement Details
Eligible claimants for the settlement are owners of Siri-enabled Apple devices (iPhone, iPad, Apple Watch, MacBook, iMac, HomePod, iPod touch, Apple TV) during the covered period from September 17, 2014, to December 31, 2024. Claimants can receive up to $20 per device, for up to five devices, with a maximum payout of $100. To claim, users must swear under oath that they experienced at least one unintended Siri activation during a private or confidential conversation on each device for which they seek payment.
The deadline to file a claim was July 2, 2025, and a final approval hearing is scheduled for August 1, 2025.
Apple's Stance
Apple denies wrongdoing and has stated that Siri was designed to protect privacy, that recordings were never used for marketing or sold, and the settlement was to avoid further litigation after addressing these issues in 2019.
Implications for User Privacy and the Tech Industry
Although Apple did not admit liability, the settlement sets a precedent emphasizing that accidental or unintended recordings can violate privacy rights, even without malicious intent. This case adds to the growing legal pressure on tech companies with voice assistants (Amazon Alexa, Google Assistant) to be transparent about recording practices, provide clear opt-in/out choices, and minimize data collection.
The settlement may prompt Apple to improve privacy disclosures, adjust Siri's activation sensitivity to reduce false triggers, and limit or restructure human review of voice data. Users are encouraged to review their device permissions, disable always-on listening when possible, and regularly delete stored recordings to protect their privacy.
In summary, this landmark settlement highlights concerns about voice-activated assistant privacy, driving both corporate accountability and user awareness in an increasingly AI-driven environment.
[1] The Verge - Apple settles Siri privacy lawsuit for $95 million [2] The Washington Post - Apple to pay $95 million to settle lawsuit over Siri recordings [3] Wired - Apple's Siri Privacy Settlement: What It Means for You [4] CNET - Apple to pay $95 million to settle Siri privacy lawsuit
- The settlement of $95-$96 million between Apple and its users demonstrates the increasing importance of data and cloud computing in general news, particularly within the context of privacy concerns associated with technology like Siri.
- The implications of this settlement, which pertains to crime and justice, extend beyond Apple, setting a precedent for tech companies with voice assistants like Google Assistant and Amazon Alexa to uphold transparency in their recording practices and prioritize user privacy.
