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Apple just settled a class-action lawsuit for $95 million and each user of a Siri-enabled Apple device could be entitled to a maximum of $20 per device, with up to five eligible devices per user. That means you could get up to $100 from Cupertino if a judge approves the settlement.
Siri Violated Your Privacy
The process started when an informant said The Guardian that Apple’s third-party contractors “regularly hear confidential details” about Siri recordings. Siri is Apple’s voice assistant, and it’s activated when you say “Hey, Siri” or “Siri” (unless just returned to “Hey Siri” to avoid accidental activations). However, Siri’s voice activation is not perfect, and sometimes mistakes a similar sound as an activation command.
To help improve this, Apple told The Guardian that a small portion (less than 1%) of Siri activation is sent to “secure installations” for analysis, and that critics listening to these snippets are “under the obligation to adhere to the strict Apple”. confidentiality requirements”. And while the company says that the data sent to the reviewers did not like your Apple ID and any other identifiable information, the whistleblower said otherwise.
“There have been countless cases of recordings with private discussions between doctors and patients, business deals, apparently criminal dealings, sexual encounters, and so on,” the informant said. They also added, “These recordings are accompanied by user data that shows location, contact data and app data.”
How much could you really get?
Apple settled the lawsuit for $95 million without admitting any wrongdoing, according to a report from The Virgin. If a judge accepts the settlement, the case will no longer have to go to trial, and anyone in the United States who owned an eligible Apple device between September 17, 2014 and December 31, 2024, could file a claim . These devices include the iPhone, iPad, Apple Watch, MacBook, iMac, HomePod, iPod touch, or Apple TV.
Aside from owning one of the devices listed in the prescribed timeline, you also have to swear under oath that you accidentally activated Siri during a private conversation to be eligible for payment. However, note that the settlement is still pending judicial approval and that the payment of $20 per device with a limit of five devices per person is only the maximum amount you can get – it could be smaller depending on the number of claimants .
Once a judge approves the settlement agreement, the court will appoint a neutral third party to identify all class members and distribute the settlement fund. The appointed administrator will usually send a notice to all eligible claimants, but will also typically post public notices for those who may be eligible but are not listed.
Therefore, you will have to wait until the court releases all these details before you can start submitting your requests. In the meantime, you might want to Turn off Siri on your Apple device if you want to maintain your privacy.
