Apple settles Siri privacy lawsuit over unintended recordings
Apple settled a class-action lawsuit for $95 million alleging that Siri-enabled devices unintentionally recorded private conversations without user consent and shared them with advertisers between 2014 and 2024. Apple denied the allegations and settled without admitting liability, and eligible U.S. users may receive up to $20 per device.
What happened
A class-action lawsuit, Lopez v. Apple, alleged that Siri-enabled devices unintentionally recorded private conversations without user consent between September 17, 2014 and December 31, 2024. Users claimed these recordings may have been shared with advertisers, resulting in targeted advertisements.
The plaintiffs alleged that Apple illegally and knowingly intercepted and recorded private conversations and disclosed the information to third parties, with some users reporting devices eavesdropped without being prompted by the phrase 'Hey, Siri' or pressing a button.
Reported impact
Users reported receiving targeted advertisements for products related to conversations they had out loud without ever interacting with Siri or searching for the products on their devices.
Governance controls
Apple said in a December 2024 legal statement that users had 'Choice and Control' and could turn Siri on and off when needed.
Classification
Sources and evidence
This record was researched and written by the Index, based on the following original reporting.