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Apple agrees to $95 million payout for Siri privacy lawsuit

Apple agrees to $95 million payout for Siri privacy lawsuit (Image Source: Photo by omid armin on Unsplash)
Apple agrees to $95 million payout for Siri privacy lawsuit (Image Source: Photo by omid armin on Unsplash)
Apple has agreed to a $95 million settlement in the class action lawsuit that claims Siri recorded private conversations when activated accidentally. The suit says Apple shared these recordings with third-party advertisers.

Reuters is reporting that Apple has agreed to pay $95 million to settle a class action lawsuit that claims Siri recorded and sent private conversations to third-party advertisers after being triggered accidentally. 

Voice assistants on mobile devices typically listen for 'wake words' such as 'Hey Siri' to activate and start listening for commands. In accidental activations, the device could potentially begin recording conversations unintentionally. 

In September, a federal judge told Apple it must face almost all of the cases dealing with Siri's potential privacy violations. One Apple user said he could targeted by ads for surgical treatments after a conversation with his doctor about that treatment. 

Two more users claimed they were served ads for Air Jordan sneakers, Pit Viper sunglasses, and Olive Garden after conversations. Apple has denied any wrongdoing in the settlement, and plaintiffs may get up to $20 per "Siri-enabled device." The preliminary settlement still requires approval by the US District Judge.

In 2019, the Washington Post reported that despite Apple's privacy claims, the company employed external contractors to listen for accidental Siri triggers to "improve" the service. Apple responded by shutting the program down the following month.

Source(s)

Reuters

Image Source: Photo by omid armin on Unsplash

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> Expert Reviews and News on Laptops, Smartphones and Tech Innovations > News > News Archive > Newsarchive 2025 01 > Apple agrees to $95 million payout for Siri privacy lawsuit
Rohith Bhaskar, 2025-01- 3 (Update: 2025-01- 3)