A $95 million settlement has received preliminary approval in a class action lawsuit alleging Apple's Siri voice assistant unintentionally recorded private communications and shared them with third parties. US residents who owned certain Siri-enabled devices between September 17, 2014, and December 31, 2024, may be eligible to file a claim.
The preliminary settlement submitted late last year resolves claims stemming from a lawsuit filed in 2019. Plaintiffs in the class action lawsuit alleged Apple devices experienced unintended Siri activations, leading to the recording of conversations intended to be confidential. These recordings were then purportedly obtained by Apple and shared with third parties.
Apple denied the allegations, stating that Siri data is used solely for improvement and is not sold or used for marketing profiles. The company agreed to the $95 million settlement to avoid further litigation, asserting that concerns about third-party grading practices were addressed in 2019.
Eligible class members include current and former owners and purchasers of Siri-enabled devices residing in the United States who experienced unintended Siri activations during the specified period that captured private communications. These devices include iPhone, iPad, Apple Watch, MacBook, iMac, HomePod, iPod touch, and Apple TV.
To submit a claim, individuals can visit the settlement website. Those who received a claim identification code and confirmation code via email or postcard can use those to file. Others who believe they qualify can submit a new claim by providing contact information and details about affected devices.
Claim submissions require information like the email associated with the device and proof of purchase, such as a receipt or invoice. If proof of purchase is unavailable, the serial number and model for each device are necessary. Claimants must also affirm under oath that they owned a qualifying device, enabled Siri, and experienced an unintended activation during a private conversation between the relevant dates.
Class members can submit claims for up to five qualifying devices. The potential payment is a pro rata share of the net settlement fund, estimated at up to $20 per affected device. The final amount per device will depend on the total number of approved claims filed against the fund. While the maximum potential individual payout based on five devices could reach $100, Reuters previously reported that millions could qualify, but claim rates are often low.
The deadline to file a claim, exclude oneself from the settlement, or object is July 2, 2025, according to a site dedicated to the suit. A final approval hearing for the settlement agreement filed in December 2024 is scheduled for August 1, 2025. Payments will only be made if the court grants final approval and resolves any potential appeals.
The case is known as Lopez, et al. v. Apple Inc., Case No. 4:19-cv-04577, filed in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California. The settlement is administered by the Lopez Voice Assistant Settlement Administrator.
