Siri Privacy Lawsuit Settlement Payouts Begin
Payouts for a class-action lawsuit settlement concerning Apple's Siri privacy practices have commenced. This settlement addresses claims of "unlawful and intentional recording" of conversations via Siri.
This settlement addresses claims of "unlawful and intentional recording" of conversations via Siri.
Settlement Details
Apple agreed to the $95 million settlement early last year, with claims accepted starting mid-last year.
The company denies any wrongdoing but proceeded with the settlement.
To be eligible for a payout, individuals must have purchased a Siri-enabled Apple device between September 17, 2014, and December 31, 2024, and experienced an unintended Siri activation. Participants could submit claims for up to five devices.
Initial estimates suggested payouts of up to $20 per device, with a maximum of $100. However, final payments are approximately $8.02 per device, capping at $40.10 for eligible claimants.
Direct deposits for these payouts began recently. Those who opted for prepaid gift cards or checks are advised to monitor their mailboxes and email spam folders.
Background on Siri Privacy Concerns
The lawsuit originated from a 2019 report by The Guardian, which indicated that Apple contractors were potentially overhearing private conversations while reviewing Siri interactions for quality assurance. Apple stated that less than 1% of Siri interactions were shared for this purpose.
In response, Apple implemented changes. Users are now required to opt-in for Siri interaction recordings used for grading, and the company no longer uses external contractors for these services.
The core privacy concern highlighted was the accidental activation of Siri, which could lead to recordings of conversations not intended for the voice assistant.
Apple maintains that Siri conversations are not utilized for marketing purposes and were never linked to user Apple accounts.