Posted by Damian Pan.
Apple has reached a settlement agreement to pay $95 million in response to a lawsuit alleging that its Siri voice assistant recorded private conversations without consent from its users. The lawsuit accused Apple of secretly gathering audio data through Siri, which was shared with third parties such as advertisers. Users were reportedly targeted with ads related to private topics, like medical treatments, conversations, and products they had mentioned. An Apple spokesperson told FOX Business, “Siri has been engineered to protect user privacy from the beginning. Siri data has never been used to build marketing profiles and it has never been sold to anyone for any purpose”. Despite denying any wrongdoing, Apple settled to avoid protracted litigation, asserting that it always strives to protect user privacy and does not use the data for marketing purposes.
The lawsuit covers Siri users from September 17, 2014, to December 31, 2024, and claims that Apple used users’ private conversations for third-party gain. Users affected may receive up to $20 per device, however Apple argues that this settlement is in both parties’ best interest. Apple maintained that no data was sold to third parties or used for marketing purposes. However, the settlement barely affects Apple as their revenue was $93 billion last year. This case highlights the growing concerns over the security of voice assistants and their users.
While this settlement seems like a resolution to the lawsuit, the larger issue of data privacy in technology is still a concern. The lawsuit is part of the many distresses that have arisen over how companies like Apple and Google handle user data. Apple’s settlement with the plaintiffs is relatively small compared to its earnings, however it sends a message about the responsibility these corporations have when it comes to user privacy. As a consumer, this case addresses the need for stronger regulations and clearer protection for individuals’ data.
Damian is a business administration major at Stillman School of Business, Seton Hall University, Class of 2028.