Class Action Alleges Siri Recorded and Shared Private Conversations
Apple has agreed to pay $95 million to settle a class action lawsuit alleging that its Siri voice assistant violated user privacy. The lawsuit, filed in the Northern District of California, claims Siri recorded private conversations after being unintentionally activated and shared those recordings with third parties, including advertisers. The settlement covers tens of millions of users who owned Siri-enabled devices like iPhones and Apple Watches during the class period from September 17, 2014, to December 31, 2024. Each eligible user could receive up to $20 per device. The settlement awaits approval from U.S. District Judge Jeffrey White.
5 Key Points
• Apple has agreed to pay $95 million to settle claims of privacy violations involving Siri.
• The lawsuit alleges Siri recorded private conversations and shared them with advertisers.
• The class period spans from September 17, 2014, to December 31, 2024.
• Tens of millions of users may receive up to $20 per Siri-enabled device.
• A related lawsuit against Google’s Voice Assistant is ongoing in the same district court.
Plaintiffs Allege Siri Violated User Privacy
The lawsuit, filed in the Northern District of California, accuses Apple of secretly recording and sharing user conversations through its Siri voice assistant. Plaintiffs alleged that Siri often activated unintentionally when users said words resembling the “Hey, Siri” command. These unintended activations allegedly led to recording and sharing private conversations with third parties, including advertisers. For instance, one plaintiff reported seeing targeted advertisements for Air Jordan sneakers after mentioning the brand name in a conversation. Another plaintiff claimed he received ads for Olive Garden shortly after discussing the restaurant. A third individual noted receiving ads for a specific surgical treatment he had only addressed privately with his doctor. These examples highlight how unintended activations of Siri may have led to breaches of user trust, raising significant questions about how voice data is collected, processed, and used by Apple.
Settlement Details and Class Period
Apple has agreed to pay $95 million to resolve the allegations, though it denies any wrongdoing or liability. The settlement is set to cover users of Siri-enabled devices, such as iPhones and Apple Watches, during the class period of September 17, 2014, to December 31, 2024. Tens of millions of affected users may be eligible for compensation, with payouts estimated at up to $20 per device. The case, officially titled Lopez et al. v. Apple Inc., U.S. District Court, Northern District of California, No. 19-04577, was filed in the Oakland federal court and awaits final approval from U.S. District Judge Jeffrey White. Additional details about the case are available via the court docket, accessible through this link.
Apple Faces Legal and Financial Repercussions
While the $95 million settlement may seem substantial, it represents less than a day’s profit for Apple, which reported $93.74 billion in net income during its most recent fiscal year. Plaintiffs’ attorneys have requested $28.5 million in legal fees and $1.1 million for expenses, leaving $65.4 million for distribution among eligible class members. Despite the settlement, Apple continues to deny that its practices violated user privacy. The company has neither publicly reported the settlement nor responded to media inquiries.
Apple’s Privacy Concerns and Industry Challenges
Apple has long marketed itself as a champion of user privacy, often touting features like end-to-end encryption and on-device data processing. However, this lawsuit raises doubts about whether the company’s actions align with its stated values. The allegations that Siri recorded private conversations without consent and shared them with advertisers have sparked concerns about the transparency of Apple’s data collection practices. Critics argue that while Apple claims to prioritize privacy, incidents like this reveal weaknesses in its oversight and accountability.
Unintended activations of voice assistants like Siri present a unique challenge. These devices are designed to constantly listen for activation commands, making accidental recordings a real risk. When these recordings are shared with third parties, they not only compromise user privacy but also raise questions about the protection of sensitive information, such as health data or personal conversations. Apple’s settlement may resolve the financial aspects of the case, but concerns remain about the broader trustworthiness of voice assistant technology.
Privacy Concerns Extend Beyond Apple
This lawsuit is not an isolated case. A similar privacy lawsuit targeting Google’s Voice Assistant is ongoing within the same district court in San Jose, California. The plaintiffs in that case are represented by the same law firms involved in the Apple lawsuit, suggesting that privacy violations involving voice assistants may be a systemic issue across the tech industry. These cases highlight increasing concerns about how tech companies collect, store, and share user data, especially as voice-activated technology becomes more integrated into daily life.
FAQ
Q: What is the Siri privacy lawsuit about?
A: The lawsuit alleges that Apple’s Siri voice assistant recorded users’ private conversations without consent and shared these recordings with advertisers, leading to concerns about privacy violations and unauthorized data use.
Q: How much will class members receive from the settlement?
A: Eligible class members may receive up to $20 per Siri-enabled device they owned during the class period from September 17, 2014, to December 31, 2024.
Q: Did Apple admit to wrongdoing in the settlement?
A: Apple denies any wrongdoing or liability in the case but agreed to pay $95 million to resolve the claims.
Q: How does this lawsuit affect Apple’s reputation for privacy?
A: The lawsuit raises questions about whether Apple’s privacy practices align with its marketing claims. Critics argue that incidents like this highlight gaps in oversight and accountability.
Q: Are there other lawsuits related to privacy and voice assistants?
A: A similar lawsuit targeting Google’s Voice Assistant is ongoing in San Jose, California. The same legal team represents the plaintiffs in that case as the Apple lawsuit.
Citations
Stempel, J. (2025, January 2). Apple to pay $95 million to settle Siri privacy lawsuit. Reuters. https://www.reuters.com/legal/apple-pay-95-million-settle-siri-privacy-lawsuit-2025-01-02/
