Apple has agreed to pay $95 million to settle a class-action lawsuit alleging that its AI-powered voice assistant Siri violated user privacy over a decade-long period. The settlement, filed in the US District Court for the Northern District of California, addresses claims that Siri inadvertently recorded private conversations between September 2014 and December 31, 2024, when users accidentally activated the “Hey, Siri” feature.
The lawsuit alleges that Apple not only recorded snippets of confidential conversations without user consent but also shared these recordings with third parties, including human reviewers and advertisers. Despite the substantial settlement, Apple has denied any wrongdoing in the case.
Eligible class members could receive up to $20 per Siri-enabled device, with the total number of potential claimants estimated in the tens of millions. To qualify, individuals must be current or former owners of Siri-enabled devices in the United States and its territories, and must declare under oath that Apple recorded their confidential conversations during inadvertent activations. The actual payout amount will vary based on the number of eligible devices owned and total claimants.
The lawsuit originated following a 2019 Guardian investigation that revealed Apple contractors frequently overheard portions of private conversations while reviewing Siri recordings for quality control purposes. In response, Apple issued a rare public apology, stating: “As a result of our review, we realize we haven’t been fully living up to our high ideals, and for that we apologize.”
Under the proposed settlement terms, Apple must publish a webpage explaining how users can opt-in to Siri improvement programs and what information will be stored. The company must also confirm permanent deletion of individual audio recordings collected before October 2019. Additionally, Apple faces up to $28.5 million in plaintiff lawyer fees and $1.1 million in litigation expenses.
The settlement comes as Apple prepares to launch a revamped, more powerful AI-driven Siri integrated with OpenAI’s ChatGPT technology. According to Craig Federighi, Apple’s senior vice president of software engineering, the new Siri will feature “on-screen awareness” and “personal context understanding,” capable of handling more complex requests. This enhanced version is expected to roll out fully in 2025, marking what Apple calls “a new era” for its voice assistant that first debuted with the iPhone 4S in 2011.
Key Quotes
As a result of our review, we realize we haven’t been fully living up to our high ideals, and for that we apologize
Apple issued this rare public apology in 2019 after The Guardian revealed that contractors were overhearing private conversations while reviewing Siri recordings. This statement acknowledged the company’s privacy failures and preceded changes to how it handled user interactions with the AI voice assistant.
The new Siri can use AI to have ‘on-screen awareness’ and ‘personal context understanding’
Craig Federighi, Apple’s senior vice president of software engineering, made this statement during the September 2024 ‘Glowtime’ event, describing the enhanced AI capabilities coming to Siri through ChatGPT integration. This highlights the irony of Apple advancing Siri’s AI while settling privacy violation claims.
Our Take
This settlement reveals the growing pains of AI integration into consumer technology. Apple’s $95 million payout demonstrates that even privacy-focused companies struggle to balance AI innovation with user protection. The inadvertent activation issue exposes a fundamental challenge with always-listening AI assistants—the technology can’t perfectly distinguish intentional from accidental triggers, creating inherent privacy risks. What’s particularly striking is the timing: as Apple settles past privacy violations, it’s simultaneously launching a more powerful, ChatGPT-enhanced Siri with greater contextual awareness. This raises questions about whether enhanced AI capabilities will exacerbate privacy concerns or whether lessons learned will inform better safeguards. The settlement’s transparency requirements could become an industry standard, forcing all AI voice assistant providers to be more explicit about data collection practices. As AI assistants become more sophisticated and integrated into our lives, this case serves as a cautionary tale about the privacy costs of convenience.
Why This Matters
This settlement represents a significant moment for AI privacy and accountability in the tech industry. As voice assistants become increasingly integrated into daily life, the case highlights critical concerns about how AI systems collect, store, and share user data. The $95 million payout sends a clear message that tech companies can face substantial financial consequences for privacy violations involving AI technologies.
The timing is particularly noteworthy as Apple prepares to launch a more sophisticated AI-powered Siri with ChatGPT integration. This creates a tension between advancing AI capabilities and protecting user privacy—a challenge facing the entire tech industry. The settlement’s requirement for transparent opt-in procedures and data deletion could set precedents for how AI companies handle voice data.
For consumers, this case underscores the importance of understanding what data AI assistants collect and how it’s used. As AI becomes more conversational and context-aware, the potential for inadvertent recordings and privacy breaches increases. This settlement may influence how other tech giants like Amazon (Alexa) and Google (Assistant) approach voice AI privacy, potentially reshaping industry standards for AI-powered virtual assistants.
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