Source URL: https://www.forbes.com/sites/kateoflahertyuk/2025/01/04/apple-siri-eavesdropping-payout-heres-whos-eligible-and-how-to-claim/
Source: Hacker News
Title: Apple Siri Eavesdropping Payout–Here’s Who’s Eligible and How to Claim
Feedly Summary: Comments
AI Summary and Description: Yes
**Summary:** The text discusses a class action lawsuit settlement involving Apple for alleged eavesdropping through Siri, where users may receive cash payouts. The case raises significant privacy concerns regarding how voice assistants handle user data, particularly in light of potential exploitation for advertising.
**Detailed Description:**
The article provides an update on a class action lawsuit against Apple regarding Siri’s alleged eavesdropping practices. Here’s a detailed breakdown of the key points:
– **Lawsuit Overview:**
– Apple has agreed to a $95 million settlement due to claims of privacy infringement involving Siri, claiming the assistant recorded users’ conversations without consent.
– This lawsuit dates back to 2019, stemming from reports that Apple employed contractors to listen to private Siri recordings, which included sensitive conversations such as medical discussions.
– **Complaints from Users:**
– Allegations highlight that users experienced targeted advertising after discussing certain topics with Siri activated unintentionally.
– Examples include one user who received ads for Air Jordan shoes and another who saw medical ads following conversations about a specific surgery.
– **Eligibility for Payout:**
– Users of Siri-enabled devices from September 17, 2014, to December 31, 2024, are eligible for a payout once the settlement is approved by a judge.
– To claim, users must affirm their experiences of inadvertent Siri activation leading to recordings;
– **Proposed Financial Settlement:**
– Each affected user could receive around $20 per device, totaling up to $100 for claims from multiple devices.
– Legal fees are also included in this sum, with lawyers anticipated to earn about 30% of the settlement.
– **Apple’s Stance:**
– Apple denies any wrongdoing, asserting that data collection is anonymized and for the purpose of service improvement, not for targeting advertisers.
– The decision to settle is viewed as a strategy to avoid potentially higher costs if the case proceeded to trial.
– **Privacy Recommendations for Users:**
– Users can take steps to limit Siri’s functionality to enhance their privacy, including disabling the voice assistant or changing settings to prevent accidental activation.
– Since 2019, Apple has instituted opt-in protocols for data collection, indicating a commitment to improved privacy practices.
**Practical Implications:**
This lawsuit underscores the importance of privacy and user consent in the design and implementation of voice assistant technologies. Security and compliance professionals must scrutinize how AI-powered applications manage user data and enhance transparency in user agreements to mitigate risks associated with privacy infringements. This case may serve as a precedent for future regulations around AI privacy standards.