Apple has reached a settlement in a long-standing privacy lawsuit concerning its voice assistant, Siri. According to Reuters, the tech giant has agreed to pay $95 million to resolve claims that Siri’s voice recordings were inadvertently collected and used without users’ consent. The settlement, filed in Oakland, California, is pending approval by US District Judge Jeffrey White.

Background of the Lawsuit

The lawsuit dates back to a 2019 investigation revealing that Apple contractors had access to sensitive voice recordings triggered by the “Hey Siri” feature. These recordings allegedly included private conversations, medical discussions, and even intimate moments. Despite denying any wrongdoing, Apple opted for a settlement to avoid protracted litigation and to move forward.

Allegations and Claims

The plaintiffs in the lawsuit argued that Siri had recorded and stored conversations without proper consent. Two individuals reported receiving targeted ads for products they mentioned in private conversations, such as Nike Air Jordans and Olive Garden. Another plaintiff linked ads for a surgical treatment to discussions with his doctor, suggesting a breach of privacy.

Apple’s Response and Privacy Measures

In a statement to Engadget, Apple emphasized its commitment to privacy, stating that Siri data is never used for marketing purposes or sold to third parties. “Siri has been engineered to protect user privacy from the beginning,” an Apple spokesperson said. The company highlighted its efforts to improve Siri’s privacy, including conducting most of its learning on-device for devices with the A12 Bionic chip or newer.

Changes Implemented by Apple

Following the 2019 revelations, Apple made several changes to its Siri quality control processes. The company suspended the program, dismissed hundreds of contractors, and limited Siri data review to Apple employees under strict confidentiality agreements. Users were also given the option to opt-in to sharing Siri recordings, with clear instructions on how to manage their data.

User Compensation and Settlement Details

If the settlement is approved, class members, defined as Siri-enabled device owners from September 17, 2014, to December 31, 2024, could receive up to $20 per device. The exact process for joining the class action and claiming compensation has yet to be detailed.

For more information, you can read the full article on Engadget here.