Closing a major controversy that began in 2019
Apple has officially begun distributing compensation payments to users who participated in the class action lawsuit related to Siri privacy concerns. The settlement follows allegations that Siri recorded private conversations without user consent, an issue that has remained unresolved since first surfacing in 2019.
The total settlement amount reached USD 95 million, which Apple agreed to pay despite denying any wrongdoing, choosing instead to resolve the case and move forward.
Who Is Eligible to Receive Compensation?
Registration for compensation opened in mid 2024, and eligible users have now started receiving payments.
To qualify, users must have:
- Purchased an Apple device that supports Siri
- Used the device between September 17, 2014 and December 31, 2024
- Experienced instances where Siri activated unintentionally
These users were considered directly affected by the issue.
How Much Compensation Do Users Receive?
Initial estimates suggested users could receive up to USD 20 per device, but the final payout was lower.
The confirmed compensation amount is approximately:
- USD 8.02 per eligible device
- Maximum of five devices per person
- Total compensation capped at USD 40.10 per user
Users who selected direct bank transfers should already begin seeing the funds reflected in their accounts. Those who opted for gift cards or checks are advised to monitor their email inboxes and spam folders.
How the Siri Privacy Controversy Began
The global controversy originated from a report by The Guardian, which revealed that Apple contractors could hear private conversations while reviewing Siri recordings for quality control.
Apple responded at the time by stating that less than 1 percent of Siri recordings were reviewed and used solely to improve system accuracy. However, the revelation raised serious concerns among users worldwide, leading to widespread criticism and legal action.
Policy Changes After the Incident
Following the backlash, Apple made several major changes:
- Voice recordings are now collected only through explicit user opt in
- Third party contractors were removed from handling Siri audio data
- Greater transparency was added to Siri privacy settings
The core issue stemmed from Siri being accidentally triggered, causing unintended recording of user conversations without active interaction.
Apple’s Official Position
Apple continues to deny any violation of privacy laws and maintains that Siri recordings were never used for marketing purposes. The company also states that recorded audio was never linked to individual user identities and was used solely to improve the technology.
Despite this stance, the compensation payout is viewed as a goodwill measure that helps repair consumer trust and brings closure to one of the company’s most high profile privacy controversies.
Source: 9to5Mac
