Apple’s $95M Siri Settlement: What IT Security Professionals need to know

Apple has agreed to pay $95 million to resolve a class-action lawsuit alleging that Siri unintentionally recorded private conversations and shared them with third parties for targeted advertising.

Background

The core of the lawsuit revolves around claims that Siri was activated without the user’s explicit command, leading to unintended recordings of private conversations. Users reported instances where merely raising an Apple Watch or casual background noise triggered Siri, capturing sensitive discussions ranging from personal matters to business negotiations. These recordings were allegedly accessed by advertisers, raising severe privacy concerns and highlighting vulnerabilities in voice-activated technologies.

Settlement

Apple’s agreement to pay up to $20 per affected device for tens of millions of users underscores the widespread impact of this issue. Covering a range of devices from iPhones to Apple Watches, the settlement aims to provide monetary relief to those affected while also addressing the broader implications for data privacy. Although Apple denied any intentional wrongdoing, the settlement reflects the gravity of the situation and the potential financial repercussions the company faced, including fines up to $1.5 billion under the Wiretap Act alone.

Apple’s Stance

Despite the settlement, Apple maintained that there was no deliberate misconduct, attributing the recordings to unintentional activations of Siri. This case, alongside a similar lawsuit against Google’s voice assistant, highlights the broader challenges the tech industry faces in balancing innovative functionalities with robust privacy protections. As voice assistants become increasingly integrated into our daily lives, ensuring their secure and ethical operation is paramount.

Source: https://www.reuters.com/legal/apple-pay-95-million-settle-siri-privacy-lawsuit-2025-01-02/