Apple has agreed to give $95 million to those users who were unknowingly “overheard” by Siri

Apple has reached a proposed $95 million settlement to address claims that its Siri voice assistant inadvertently recorded private conversations, which were sometimes overheard by human contractors. If approved by a judge, the agreement could compensate eligible US-based users with up to $20 per Siri-enabled device.

Who is eligible for the settlement?

The settlement applies to a subset of US residents who owned or purchased a Siri-enabled iPhone, iPad, Apple Watch, MacBook, iMac, HomePod, iPod touch, or Apple TV between September 17, 2014, and December 31, 2024. To qualify, users must also declare under oath that Siri was unintentionally activated during private conversations.

The payout amount will depend on the number of valid claims filed. While the maximum is $20 per device for up to five devices, the actual amount could be lower if many users participate.

Origins of the lawsuit

The legal action stems from a 2019 report by The Guardian, which revealed that Apple contractors regularly reviewed recordings captured by Siri, including confidential medical information, intimate conversations, and illegal activities. The whistleblower behind the report claimed that accidental Siri activations were frequent, with even minor sounds like a zipper triggering the assistant.

Apple later acknowledged these practices, apologized publicly, and changed its policies. The company pledged to stop retaining Siri recordings and made audio sharing optional for quality control purposes.