Apple settles Siri lawsuit with a $95 million payout
Apple decided to pay $95 million in cash to settle a class action lawsuit, claiming its voice assistant Siri was recording private conversations of mobile phone users.
On Tuesday, the initial settlement was submitted to the federal court in Oakland, California, awaiting approval from the US District Judge.
The class action lawsuit alleged that Apple was "frequently recording” conversations following the unintended activation of the voice assistant. Subsequently, these conversations were shared with third parties, including advertisers.
The plaintiffs asserted they were offered Air Jordan sneakers, Olive Garden dining experiences, and even a specific brand of surgical treatment, which was reportedly discussed in private with a doctor.
The class period runs from September 17, 2014, to December 31, 2024 - the entire time Siri has been part of the Apple ecosystem.
Class members, likely numbering in the tens of millions, could receive as much as $20 for each Siri-enabled device, including iPhones and Apple Watches. Plaintiff"s lawyers did not provide comments, and Apple has denied any wrongdoing.
According to Reuters, the $95 million cash settlement equals about nine hours of profit for Apple, as the company reported $93.74 billion in its latest fiscal year.
