Apple users in the U.S. who believe they experienced unauthorized activation of Siri may soon benefit from a $95 million settlement stemming from a class-action lawsuit. The lawsuit, initiated in 2019, alleged that Siri, the tech giant’s virtual assistant, inadvertently recorded private conversations without user consent, even without activation from the trigger phrase “Hey, Siri.”
The accusations claim that these recordings were sometimes shared with advertisers, who might then use the data to target specific products to susceptible consumers. Despite the serious allegations, Apple maintains that its practices regarding user privacy have always been stringent and that the company would have been exonerated if the case proceeded to trial. In a previous statement, Apple asserted that “Siri has been engineered to protect user privacy from the beginning,” and that no Siri data has ever been sold or utilized to develop marketing profiles.
While Apple did not specify its reasons for agreeing to the settlement, companies frequently opt for such resolutions to avoid prolonged legal costs and to mitigate potential damage to their reputations. Eligible participants in the class action are those who purchased or owned an iPhone or other Siri-enabled device and experienced unintended activations of the assistant during a private conversation between September 17, 2014, and December 31, 2024.
Siri-enabled devices include iPhones, iPads, Apple Watches, MacBooks, iMacs, HomePods, iPod Touches, and Apple TVs. To qualify for a payment, claimants must submit a valid claim form by July 2, 2025, attesting under oath that Siri was unintentionally activated. Each validated claim could result in a payout of up to $20 per device, although the exact amount will ultimately depend on the total number of valid claims submitted, with a maximum of five devices per person.
Payment options will include a physical check, electronic check, or direct deposit, offering flexibility for claimants. The settlement is slated for court review on August 1, 2025, and payments could be processed thereafter, dependent on the conclusion of any potential appeals.
For those seeking more information or wishing to file a claim related to their Siri device, further details are available on the settlement’s official online page.
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