Apple has reached a proposed $95 million settlement to resolve allegations that its voice assistant Siri violated users’ privacy by recording private conversations without their consent. The lawsuit alleges that these records were sometimes shared with third parties, raising significant privacy concerns. The settlement, filed in a California federal court, is now awaiting court approval.

Wondering what the privacy lawsuit between Apple and Siri is all about? Here you will find everything you need to know about the lawsuit.

Privacy lawsuit between Apple and Siri explained

Apple has agreed to pay $95 million to resolve allegations that its voice assistant Siri violated users’ privacy. The class action lawsuit alleged that Siri occasionally unintentionally recorded private conversations and shared the data with advertisers, raising significant privacy concerns. The allegations against Siri contradict Apple’s long-standing promise to protect customer privacy.

The preliminary settlement, filed in federal court in Oakland, California, must be approved by U.S. District Judge Jeffrey White before it becomes official. Attorneys are seeking a Feb. 14 trial date in Oakland. The plaintiffs alleged that discussions about products like sneakers or restaurants led to targeted advertising, suggesting that Siri’s activations were not always intentional. The lawsuit involves Siri-enabled devices used between September 17, 2014 and December 31, 2024.

Eligible users could receive up to $20 per device, while plaintiffs’ lawyers are seeking $28.5 million in legal fees and $1.1 million in expenses from the settlement fund. Although Apple denied any wrongdoing, it decided to settle to avoid further litigation.

The $95 million settlement appears to be a minor expense for Apple, whose annual profits topped $93 billion. However, it highlights the increasing challenges of voice assistant technologies and their handling of sensitive user data. This case, Lopez et al v. Apple Inc., highlights broader concerns about technology companies and privacy.

A similar lawsuit against Google’s voice assistant is currently underway in the same district, involving the same legal team.

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