Apple Agrees To Pay $13 Billion To Settle Siri Recording Users Private Conversations Apple has agreed to pay $95 million (over Rs 13 billion) to settle a lawsuit filed in federal court in Oakland, California, on Tuesday over allegations that its virtual assistant Siri listened to users’ private conversations. The settlement was reached after a proposed settlement was filed in federal court in Oakland, California.
The lawsuit against Apple is a five-year-old case. Apple was accused of secretly activating Siri to record people’s conversations on iPhones and other Apple devices. The company is said to have used Siri as a spying tool for a decade.
The virtual assistant is activated when the user says “Hey Siri.” Apple is accused of secretly recording audio while it is activated. And some of the recorded conversations were allegedly sold to advertisers.
The accusation that Siri is spying is a direct contradiction to Apple’s commitment to protecting customer privacy. Apple CEO Tim Cook has repeatedly described this commitment as “a fight to protect basic human rights.”
If the settlement is approved, millions of consumers who used iPhones and other Apple devices between September 17, 2014 and the end of 2024 will be able to file claims. Each consumer could receive up to $20 for the Siri-enabled devices covered by the settlement.
According to various reports, only three to five per cent of eligible consumers are expected to file claims. Eligible consumers are said to be able to claim compensation for a maximum of five devices.
