Some Apple customers could qualify for a piece of a $95 million settlement after a class action lawsuit was filed by users who say Siri was listening in on conversations without being activated.
The proposed settlement, as reported by USA TODAY, was filed earlier this month in an Oakland federal court and awaits approval by a federal judge. If approved, it will end a five-year legal battle which started after a 2019 report from The Guardian found Apple contractors regularly hear confidential information while “grading” the Siri voice assistant.
In the class action lawsuit, Apple device users complained Siri could be accidentally activated, allowing it to record conversations users thought were private, and disclosing conversations to third parties such as advertisers, USA TODAY reported. The plaintiffs said mentions of certain brands triggered ads for those products.
Here’s what to know about the Apple settlement, including who qualifies and how much they could receive.
The class period runs from Sept. 17, 2014, to Dec. 31, 2024, Reuters reported, beginning when the “Hey Siri” feature was incorporated into Apple devices including iPhones, iPads, Apple Watches and more.
Per USA TODAY, claimants must also confirm under oath that they have experienced Siri listening to a “conversation intended to be private” without being purposefully activated. Those who take settlement money will forfeit their right to sue Apple for similar claims.
Customers who purchased Apple devices between Sept. 17, 2014, and Dec. 31, 2024, may qualify to receive up to $20 per device.
If the judge approves the settlement, a website will go live where you can stake your claim. Further details have yet to be released.
This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: Apple class action lawsuit: What to know about $95M settlement