Apple’s $95 Million Settlement Over Siri Privacy Concerns

Apple is set to pay $95 million to settle a lawsuit. This lawsuit claimed that the Siri voice assistant was snooping on users. The information comes from a recent filing in a California Federal Court.

Many iPhone users complained. They said that Apple often recorded their conversations. This happened when they accidentally activated Siri. Sometimes, people say things that sound like “Hey Siri.” This can trigger the voice assistant without them wanting it to.

$95 Million

The class action lawsuit said that Apple shared these recordings with others. This included advertisers. Two people in the lawsuit said they received ads for products after talking about them. For example, one person mentioned Air Jordan sneakers in a conversation. Later, they saw ads for those sneakers. Another person talked about a surgical treatment with their doctor. They then received ads for that treatment, which they thought was private.

What Happened with Siri?

Two people who joined the lawsuit shared their stories. They said they received ads for products they mentioned in their talks. One person saw ads for Air Jordan sneakers after talking about them near a Siri-enabled device. Another person got ads for a surgical treatment after discussing it with a doctor. This made them feel like their private talks were not private at all.

Because of these claims, the lawsuit turned into a class action. This means many people can join in and seek compensation. Those affected could get up to $20 for each Siri-enabled device they own. This includes iPhones, Apple Watches, and HomePods.

$95 Million

Who Can Get Compensation?

People who are part of this class action could receive $20 for each Siri-enabled device they own. This includes iPhones, Apple Watches, and smart speakers like HomePod. The total amount Apple will pay is $95 million.

Even though Apple is settling the case, the company did not admit to any wrongdoing. They agreed to this settlement to put the lawsuit behind them. Apple did not give a comment on this matter when asked.

Understanding the Impact of the Settlement

This payout of $95 million is quite small for Apple. In fact, it is only about nine hours of profit for the tech giant. Last year, Apple made nearly $94 billion in net income. This shows how big the company is and how much money they make.

$95 Million

Other similar lawsuits are happening too. For example, there is a lawsuit against Google for its voice assistant. This case is also in California. These cases raise important questions about privacy. Many people are concerned about how their data is used.

Details About the Lawsuit

The lawsuit began when a whistleblower revealed that Apple was recording Siri conversations. The conversations were sent to quality assurance teams. These teams checked if users activated Siri on purpose or by accident. Apple said that the recordings used for this purpose were a tiny part of daily interactions with Siri.

The plaintiffs in the lawsuit accused Apple of breaching users’ privacy. They claimed that Apple shared Siri recordings with third parties. This included advertisers who then targeted users with ads.

What Happens Next?

The settlement still needs to be approved by a judge. A hearing is scheduled for February 14. If the judge approves it, many consumers will be eligible for compensation.

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Steps Apple Will Take

Along with paying the settlement, Apple will take other steps. The company will allow users to delete recordings of their Siri conversations. They will also create a website with information about the lawsuit. This site will help users understand how to file for compensation.

Conclusion

This settlement is a big event for privacy rights. It shows that companies need to be careful with user data. People expect their conversations to stay private. When companies fail to protect that privacy, they can face serious consequences.

As technology continues to grow, these issues will become more important. Users must be aware of how their data is being used. The outcome of this lawsuit may change how companies handle privacy in the future.

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