Apple’s $95 Million Siri Privacy Settlement: Are You Eligible for a Payout?
Did you own an iPhone, iPad, or other Siri-enabled Apple device between September 2014 and December 2024? You might be entitled to a piece of Apple's $95 million settlement over alleged privacy violations related to its Siri voice assistant. This settlement resolves a class-action lawsuit accusing Apple of capturing sensitive user information without consent and sharing it with third-party contractors. But how do you know if you qualify, and what do you need to do to claim your share?
The lawsuit, Lopez, et al. v. Apple Inc., alleged that Siri unintentionally recorded private conversations and shared them with external parties. While Apple denies any wrongdoing, they agreed to the $95 million settlement to resolve the claims. The deadline to file a claim is July 2, 2025, so time is of the essence.
So, who is eligible? The settlement covers individuals in the United States who owned or purchased the following Siri-enabled devices between September 17, 2014, and December 31, 2024: iPhone, iPad, Apple Watch, MacBook, iMac, HomePod, iPod touch, or Apple TV. You must also believe that Siri was accidentally activated on your device during a private conversation.
If you meet these criteria, you can submit a claim for up to $20 per device. While this might not be a life-changing sum, it's a tangible acknowledgment of privacy concerns in the age of AI. To file a claim, you'll need to confirm under oath that you owned a qualifying Siri device and experienced unintended activations during confidential conversations. Some users may have already received Claim Identification Numbers and Claim Confirmation Codes. However, even without these, you can still submit a claim.
Apple maintains that Siri was designed with user privacy in mind, stating that shared data is used solely for improving the voice assistant, and voice data is often processed locally on newer devices. However, skepticism remains, especially in the current landscape where vast amounts of data are needed to train AI models. Apple recently disclosed that it would use images from its Apple Maps Street View feature for AI training, highlighting the increasing need for data acquisition.
The final approval hearing for the Apple Siri settlement is scheduled for August 1, 2025. If approved, payments will be distributed to eligible claimants. Remember, the deadline to file your claim is rapidly approaching: July 2, 2025.
Is this settlement a fair resolution to the privacy concerns surrounding Siri? Does the potential $20 payout adequately compensate users whose private conversations may have been recorded? Share your thoughts and experiences in the comments below!
