According to ArsTechnica , a five-year-old class-action lawsuit alleging that Siri eavesdropped on users’ conversations has just ended with a $95 million settlement, though Apple did not admit any wrongdoing. Instead, the settlement covers “inadvertent” Siri activations since the “Hey, Siri” feature was introduced in 2014. These recordings were triggered unintentionally without the user saying the necessary phrase.
Siri, Apple's voice assistant, has been accused of arbitrarily recording private conversations, leading to a major controversy over user privacy and data security.
According to a whistleblower, Siri sometimes activates itself when the Apple Watch is raised while in use and detects voice. The only indication users may notice is that targeted ads appear for the exact products or brands they were discussing.
It’s unclear how many customers are affected. Under the settlement, Apple will pay up to $20 for each Siri-enabled device purchased between September 17, 2014, and December 31, 2024, including iPhones, iPads, Apple Watches, MacBooks, HomePods, iPod touches, and Apple TVs. Users can claim up to five devices.
A hearing to approve the settlement is scheduled for February 14. If approved, Apple will notify all affected customers, not only to provide compensation but also to ensure that private calls are permanently deleted. While the settlement is seen as a small victory for consumers, many argue that Apple got off easy. Under the Wiretap Act, Apple could be fined more than $1.5 billion if the lawsuit goes to trial and the plaintiffs win.
But lawyers representing Apple users opted to settle because data privacy law is still a developing area, with the risk that new legal decisions could change the landscape. In addition, the scope of the case could be narrowed if the court requires the plaintiffs to prove their calls were inadvertently recorded by Siri.
The issue of Siri unintentionally recording audio was first revealed by a whistleblower in 2019. The whistleblower claimed the recordings included a wide range of sensitive content, including doctor-patient discussions, business transactions, criminal acts, and even sensitive personal interactions.
Apple users filed a lawsuit calling the practice “a serious violation of social norms” and possibly a violation of federal law. Apple denied the allegations but eventually agreed to settle, hoping to end the dispute. Meanwhile, Google is facing a similar lawsuit over its voice assistant. The affected devices include smart speakers, Nest displays, and Pixel phones, dating back to 2016. The lawsuit is not expected to be resolved until next fall.
Source: https://thanhnien.vn/apple-chi-95-trieu-usd-dan-xep-vu-kien-siri-nghe-len-185250103222731418.htm
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