In a saga that has stretched over half a decade, Apple has finally agreed to settle a class action lawsuit that accused the tech giant of unlawfully recording private conversations through its Siri voice assistant. This settlement, announced on January 2, 2025, involves Apple paying out $95 million, potentially to the benefit of tens of millions of users.

According to reports from Reuters, the settlement requires approval from U.S. District Judge Jeffrey White in the Oakland, California federal court, where it was filed on Tuesday night. If approved, class members could receive up to $20 for each Siri-enabled device they own, including iPhones and Apple Watches. This compensation is aimed at those whose privacy was allegedly infringed upon due to Siri’s unintended activation and subsequent recording of conversations.

The lawsuit, initiated in 2019, claimed that Apple not only recorded these interactions without user consent but also shared them with third parties, leading to targeted advertising. The crux of the issue was the “Hey Siri” activation feature, which, according to the plaintiffs, triggered the voice assistant inadvertently, capturing private moments.

Jonathan Stempel of Reuters notes:

Class members, estimated in the tens of millions, may receive up to $20 per Siri-enabled device, such as iPhones and Apple Watches.

Despite the settlement, Apple has maintained that it does not admit to any wrongdoing. However, the company has made significant changes to its Siri operations and privacy policies over the years:

• Internal review: Following the lawsuit, Apple conducted an internal review of Siri’s data practices, especially concerning the use of contractors.
• Enhanced privacy controls: New permission prompts were introduced for Siri audio recording, giving users more control over their data.
• Ask App Not to Track: This privacy feature was rolled out to allow users to opt-out of app tracking, enhancing user privacy across the board.

These changes, while not an acknowledgment of guilt, reflect Apple’s response to the privacy concerns raised by this lawsuit and similar public scrutiny.

The settlement figure of $95 million might seem significant, but for Apple, it represents only about nine hours of profit based on their latest fiscal year’s net income. This financial aspect underscores why settling might have been seen as the most practical resolution for Apple, avoiding further legal battles and potentially higher costs.

For users potentially eligible for compensation, details on how to claim your share of the settlement have not been released yet. As the settlement moves through the judicial process, more specific information on claiming procedures will become available. We’ll be sure to update you as those details emerge.

Keep an eye out for further developments, and rest assured, we’ll keep you informed on how to possibly claim your piece of this $95 million pie.