Virtual assistants like Siri have become part of our everyday lives. iPhones, Macs, and even Apple TVs are equipped with this helpful voice assistant that can do everything from tell you the weather to call your contacts to provide sports scores and control video playback.
However, there’s a catch with all of this technology.
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While it may make your life easier and tasks more intuitive, it also comes at a cost — and not just a monetary one. Devices are constantly listening, and many people are concerned about the privacy implications of letting virtual assistants eavesdrop on every conversation they have, even in the privacy of their home.
Tech companies need to be careful about safeguarding customer information in order for consumers to feel the tradeoff is worth it — and they haven’t always been great at that.
In fact, in 2021, Apple was sued by a device user who claimed that Siri was listening to his confidential conversations even when he wasn’t interacting with Siri, then sharing those conversations with other companies that sent targeted ads based on the private discussions.
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Apple denied the allegations, but also agreed to settle the lawsuit — and now consumers can now take action to claim a piece of the $95 million the tech company agreed to pay.
Apple sued for Siri’s alleged privacy violations
The 2021 lawsuit against Apple was filed by a California resident named Fumiko Lopez. He owned multiple Apple devices and reportedly received targeted ads in the Safari web browser, as well as in Apple search, with companies placing the ads based on conversations that Siri overheard.
Lopez v. Apple alleged the devices were recording these conversations even when the trigger words “Hey, Siri” were not used and when he had not taken any steps to activate the virtual assistant.
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The lawsuit took years to resolve, but the proposed settlement was finally filed with an Oakland court this year. While the tech company did agree to pay $95 million to resolve the case, the lawsuit website states: “Apple denies all of the allegations made in the lawsuit and denies that Apple did anything improper or unlawful.”
How to claim your piece of the settlement
The settlement is open to any Apple users who owned Siri-enabled devices, including iPhones and other products, between September 17, 2014, and December 31, 2024. Affected Apple products include:
- iPhone
- iPad
- Apple Watch
- MacBook
- iMac
- HomePod
- iPod touch
- Apple TV
Those claiming settlement funds must have “experienced an unintended Siri activation during a confidential or private communication.”
Consumers who participate in the settlement can expect to receive around $20 per Siri-enabled device, up to a maximum of five different devices. That means the maximum payment will be $100.
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If Apple has your information on record, you may have received an email or postcard with a claim ID number and a confirmation code. You can enter this information on the settlement site, but you must take action by July 2, 2025.
If you did not receive an email but believe you should be eligible anyway based on your use of Apple devices, you can also visit the settlement site and select the option “New Claim” to enter your personal information, including proof of purchase of the qualifying Apple device.
You can also contact the settlement administrator via phone at 1-888-981-4106; or via mail sent to Lopez Voice Assistant Settlement Administrator, P.O. Box 6609, 614 Cranbury Rd., East Brunswick, NJ 08816 if you have questions or need help.
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Payments are expected later this year, as the final approval for the settlement is anticipated on August 1, 2025.
