In a landmark move, Apple has agreed to a $95 million settlement to address accusations that its Siri virtual assistant secretly recorded user conversations without their consent. This legal resolution stems from a five-year-long lawsuit filed in Oakland, California, alleging Apple violated privacy laws and used these recordings to tailor advertising efforts.

The Allegations Against Apple

The lawsuit accuses Apple of covertly activating Siri on its devices—even when users did not intentionally trigger the “Hey, Siri” command—and recording private conversations. Further claims suggest that these conversations were shared with advertisers to create targeted marketing strategies.

Such allegations appear contradictory to Apple’s core privacy principles, a hallmark of its brand under the leadership of CEO Tim Cook, who has described privacy as “a fundamental human right.”

Settlement Details

While Apple has denied any wrongdoing, the settlement seeks to provide compensation to users of Siri-enabled devices between September 17, 2014, and the end of 2023. Eligible consumers can file claims for up to five devices, potentially receiving up to $20 per device. However, the actual payout will depend on the number of claims submitted.

Court filings estimate only 3% to 5% of eligible users will file claims. The settlement also allocates up to $29.6 million for attorneys’ fees and related expenses. A hearing to finalize the terms is set for February 14, 2025.

A Fraction of Apple’s Revenues

The $95 million settlement is modest compared to Apple’s colossal $705 billion profits since September 2014. It is also far below the estimated $1.5 billion in potential liability had the lawsuit gone to trial.

This settlement marks a significant moment in the ongoing dialogue about user privacy and corporate accountability, reminding tech giants of their responsibility to safeguard consumer trust.