Early last year, Apple faced a class action lawsuit over claims of another kind: users argued their conversations with Siri were recorded unlawfully. This issue first emerged in 2019, when reports revealed that Apple contractors were listening to audio snippets from Siri to improve the service. Though Apple maintains no wrongdoing occurred, the company opted to settle to move forward.
As of last year, claims from affected users began to be processed. Many are now receiving their refunds. To be eligible for the payout, users needed to have bought a Siri-enabled device between September 17, 2014, and December 31, 2024, and experienced unintentional activations of Siri. Individuals could submit requests for up to five devices. Initially, the $95 million settlement promised around $20 per device, but recent figures show payouts are closer to $8.02 per device, with a maximum of $40.10.
If you participated in the settlement, direct deposits started recently. For those who chose a prepaid gift card or check, keep an eye on your email spam folder or mailbox for updates.
On Twitter, users have shared their excitement about receiving these payouts. One user noted, “Just randomly got a Siri voice assistant lawsuit settlement deposit in my Cash App. Check your accounts if you signed up.”
This lawsuit brought privacy concerns to the forefront. A 2019 report by The Guardian highlighted that less than 1% of Siri interactions were shared for quality assurance, but it raised alarms about the potential for misuse. In response, Apple changed its policies. Now, users must opt-in for recordings used to improve Siri.
Experts agree that privacy issues are critical today. According to a recent survey by Pew Research, about 81% of Americans feel they have little to no control over the data collected by companies. People are becoming more aware and concerned about their digital footprints, and cases like this only add to the conversation.
While Apple insists that Siri recordings are never linked to user accounts and aren’t used for marketing, many users remain wary. The company continues to enhance privacy features, but this case serves as a reminder of the importance of transparency in technology.
For more on the privacy measures Apple has adopted since the lawsuit, check out this article.
