Apple Admits Siri Recorded User Conversions
Today, it was reported that Apple has reached a $95 million settlement with users whose conversations were accidentally recorded by the Siri voice assistant and, theoretically, listened to by company employees.
Apple has reached a tentative settlement in a privacy case that could reward users with up to $20 for each Siri-enabled device they use. The voice assistants are typically activated using “hot phrases” like “Hey Siri.” However, the plaintiffs said that even casual mentions of certain brands or topics later triggered targeted ads. For example, two plaintiffs said that after discussing Air Jordan sneakers and Olive Garden restaurants, they were served ads for those products. Another plaintiff said he received targeted medical ads after a conversation with a doctor that he believed was completely private. The lawsuit covers the period from September 17, 2014, to December 31, 2024, when Siri’s “Hey Siri” feature was implemented.
The class action lawsuit is estimated to involve tens of millions of people who could receive up to $20 for each Siri-enabled device, such as the iPhone and Apple Watch. Apple, for its part, denies any wrongdoing but agreed to the settlement to avoid further litigation.
