Apple Settles Siri Eavesdropping Lawsuit for $95 Million Amid Privacy Concerns

Apple has decided to settle a legal case for $95 million that claimed its virtual assistant, Siri, acted as a spy by eavesdropping on iPhone users without their consent, which contradicted Apple's longstanding privacy commitments. The lawsuit was initiated by the Wood Law Firm in August 2019, following allegations by The Guardian that Siri’s microphone could be activated to capture conversations surreptitiously instead of just responding to the phrase "Hey, Siri" as intended.

The lawsuit alleged that not only did Siri listen and record conversations outside of designated commands, but it was suggested that Apple may have also shared these recordings with advertisers seeking to engage more effectively with consumers. The settlement, which is yet to receive judicial approval, might allow for compensation for millions of U.S. consumers who purchased Siri-enabled products from September 2014 through the end of last year, with estimates hinting at a payout of up to $20 per device, subject to various factors like the number of claims received.

While Apple denied any wrongdoing and asserted it would have prevailed in court if the case had gone to trial, the legal representatives of consumers indicated that the company could have faced up to $1.5 billion in damages if the alleged violations were proven true. The amount earmarked for the settlement, though significant, represents a minor fraction of Apple's overall profits, which have surpassed $700 billion since 2014, contributing to a market valuation of approximately $3.7 trillion.

Concerns remain about the privacy implications of smart devices, as a similar lawsuit is underway against Google regarding its virtual assistant on Android devices. For those worried about the privacy of their devices, Apple users can disable Siri’s microphone by following a few straightforward steps in the settings menu, effectively safeguarding their conversations.