Tech giant Apple, responsible for the ubiquitous iPhone and other devices like iPads and Apple Watches, has agreed to pay a $95 million settlement involving its virtual assistant Siri.
According to the lawsuit, Apple devices eavesdropped on users as a part of its "Hey Siri" technology in which iPhones, iPads, Apple Watches, and other Siri-equipped products actively listened to and recorded conversations for the two words used to trigger the assistant. The proposed settlement was filed in an Oakland, California federal court on Dec. 31.
If you've used any Apple devices in the past decade, you might want to listen up—no pun intended.
It all dates back to 2019 when The Guardian reported that Apple hired contractors to listen to Siri recordings of users' conversations. This included everything from medical appointments to sexual encounters and drug deals. While Apple at the time acknowledged that Siri recordings could be listened to, it didn't say that humans were listening to them. The new lawsuit alleged that Apple didn't inform users they were frequently being recorded without their consent.
According to Forbes, this case was brought by various users including two plaintiffs alleging that they started getting ads on their iPhones for Air Jordan shoes after mentioning the sneakers in conversation, while another said he began receiving medical ads after speaking about a specific surgical treatment with his doctor.
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To be eligible for the Siri settlement, you must be based in the U.S. and have owned an Apple device between Sept. 17, 2014 and Dec. 31, 2024.
You will receive $20 if you file a claim, but it's not just limited to your iPhone. You can submit a claim for each Apple device that you use, up to five devices for a total of $100. Depending on the number of claims submitted and approved, the payment could end up being higher.
A website to submit your claim is required to be set up within 45 days. After that, you have until May 15, 2025 to file your claim.
If you don't want your iPhone actively listening to you for the same reason these plaintiffs brought their case, toggle off "Listen for 'Hey Siri' in the Siri & Search menu of your Settings.
