Apple has pledged to pay $95 million (£77 million) to settle a US class action lawsuit alleging its virtual assistant Siri recorded private conversations without users’ consent.
The proposed settlement, filed in federal court in Oakland, California, comes after a five-year legal dispute that covers tens of millions of Apple device owners.
Although Apple denies any wrongdoing, it has approved the payment, which allows individuals who own Siri-enabled devices — including iPhones and Apple Watches — to claim up to $20 per device. The case centers on allegations that Siri was inadvertently triggered without using the wake word “Hey, Siri,” resulting in private conversations being recorded and shared with third parties such as advertisers.
Plaintiffs have reported incidents in which private discussions about products or services — from Air Jordan sneakers to specific medical treatments — led to targeted advertising for those same items. They claim that Apple captured these conversations and shared them without user permission.
The proposed settlement could damage Apple’s privacy-focused image, as CEO Tim Cook has previously positioned the company as a leader in protecting customer data. However, the $95 million settlement represents only a small portion of the profits Apple has made since 2014 (an estimated $705 billion).
The settlement still requires court approval, and a hearing is proposed for February 14 in Oakland. If approved, eligible US customers who owned Siri-enabled devices between September 17, 2014 and the end of last year will be able to file claims. Plaintiffs’ attorneys may seek legal fees and expenses from the Settlement Fund, which may amount to $29.6 million in total.