Eligible Apple users in the United States who may have been impacted by alleged past issues concerning Siri privacy now have the opportunity to submit claims for a share of a $95 million settlement.
This significant fund was established as a result of a class action lawsuit related to how unintentional Siri activations and resulting recordings were handled by Apple. A dedicated website has been established to manage the claims process and facilitate the distribution of funds to those who qualify.
Understanding the Siri Privacy Lawsuit
The $95 million settlement stems from a class action lawsuit initially filed in 2019. The lawsuit brought forth allegations that Apple was infringing upon its users’ privacy by capturing conversations that were unintentionally overheard by the Siri voice assistant without the users’ explicit consent.
A key aspect of the allegations was that recordings from these unintended activations were then allegedly passed on to third-party contractors who were working on quality control for the voice assistant. The lawsuit raised significant concerns about user data handling and the potential for sensitive private conversations to be captured and shared.
Apple’s Response and Settlement Agreement
Following the filing of the Apple lawsuit, Apple took steps to address some of the concerns raised. The company issued a formal apology regarding the handling of Siri recordings and pledged to change its practices, specifically stating that it would no longer retain user recordings from Siri interactions unless users opted into allowing the recordings to be used for quality control purposes.
However, Apple did push back against some of the additional allegations made in the lawsuit, particularly denying claims that it had allowed advertisers to target consumers based on data obtained from Siri recordings.
Despite denying some allegations, Apple ultimately agreed in January 2025 to pay $95 million out to impacted users to settle the case and resolve the litigation. This agreement avoids a potentially lengthy and costly trial.
Who is Eligible to Claim?
Eligibility for a payout from the $95 million settlement is specific. To qualify, you must be an owner of an Apple device (such as an iPhone, iPad, Apple Watch, Mac, HomePod, iPod touch, or Apple TV) and a resident of the United States. Crucially, you must have experienced an unintended Siri activation on one of your devices during a private conversation.
The incident of unintended activation during a private conversation must have occurred between September 17th, 2014, and December 31st, 2024. If you believe you meet these criteria, you are potentially eligible to submit a claim.
How to Submit a Claim and the Deadline
The process for submitting a claim is managed through a dedicated website specifically set up for this Apple Siri settlement. Potentially eligible Apple users can visit this website to learn more about the settlement, verify their eligibility, and complete the claim form. The deadline for submitting a claim is July 2nd, 2025.
This means eligible users have approximately eight weeks from the date of the original article’s publication to complete and submit their claim through the official settlement website. Missing this deadline will forfeit the opportunity to receive a payout.
Claiming for Multiple Devices and Payout Limits
Eligible claimants can submit claims for more than one device. The settlement allows for claims to be submitted for up to five different Siri-enabled devices that meet the eligibility criteria (experienced an unintended activation during a private conversation within the specified date range). When submitting a claim for each device, the claimant will be required to swear under oath that the unintentional activation occurred on that specific device during a private conversation.
While the total $95 million settlement amount covers potential payouts to claimants, as well as legal fees and administration costs, the payout to individual claimants is capped. Approved settlement payouts are capped at $20 per device. This means the maximum potential payout for a single eligible claimant is $100, achievable by submitting and having approved claims for five eligible devices.
It is important to note that the final amount paid per device may be less than $20 if the total number of approved claims exceeds the amount available after legal and administrative costs are deducted, but it will not exceed $20 per device.
Notification and Eligibility
Some individuals who have been identified as potentially eligible Apple users may have received a direct notification about the settlement, possibly including a Claim Identification Code and a Confirmation Code. These users are in the process of being notified. However, receiving such a notification is not a requirement to submit a claim.
Anyone in the U.S. who believes they meet the eligibility criteria based on their experience with Siri and their Apple devices during the specified timeframe is encouraged to visit the official settlement website to determine their eligibility and submit a claim, regardless of whether they received a personalized claim notice.
The Significance of Tech Privacy Issues
This Apple Siri settlement highlights the broader and increasing concerns around tech privacy and the handling of user data by large technology companies, particularly concerning voice assistants that are always listening for wake words.
Lawsuits like this underscore the importance of transparency and obtaining clear user consent for data collection and usage. The settlement serves as a reminder for both technology companies to be vigilant about user privacy and for consumers to be aware of how their data is being handled by the devices and services they use daily.
Your Opportunity to Claim
The opening of the claims process for the $95 million Apple Siri privacy settlement provides a tangible opportunity for potentially impacted Apple users in the United States to receive compensation. If you owned an Apple device and experienced an unintended Siri activation during a private conversation between September 17, 2014, and December 31, 2024, you may be eligible to claim up to $20 per device (with a maximum of $100 per claimant).
It is crucial to act quickly, as the deadline to submit a claim is July 2nd, 2025. Potentially eligible individuals are strongly encouraged to visit the official settlement website before the deadline to learn more and submit their claim for their share of the settlement fund related to past Siri privacy concerns.
Disclaimer: This article provides information based on reported details of the settlement. Eligibility and final payout amounts depend on the official settlement terms and the number of approved claims. Consult the official settlement website for complete information and to submit a claim.
