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Title: Claiming Your Share in the Apple Siri Eavesdropping Settlement: Who's Eligible?

Title: Potential Compensation of $20 per Device for Users Impacted by Alleged Siri Snooping

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Title: Claiming Your Share in the Apple Siri Eavesdropping Settlement: Who's Eligible?

Updated, January 6, 2025: This story, originally published January 3, now includes additional details about who's eligible to claim and instructions on how to disable Siri. Apple has agreed to pay $95 million to settle a class action lawsuit alleging unlawful Siri eavesdropping.

The case, currently awaiting approval from a U.S. district judge, alleges Apple violated user privacy by capturing Siri conversations when the voice assistant was activated accidentally and sharing this data with advertisers. Reports suggest this has been happening as far back as 2019, and U.K. newspaper The Guardian exposed the use of contractors to listen to Siri recordings of private conversations.

The lawsuit alleges Apple failed to inform users they were being regularly recorded without consent. A settlement proposal highlights two plaintiffs who mentioned Air Jordan shoes and received targeted ads on their Apple devices, as well as another user who received medical ads following a conversation with a doctor about a specific surgical treatment.

Who's eligible to claim compensation?

If you owned a Siri-enabled Apple device between September 17, 2014, and December 31, 2024, and are based in the U.S., you may be eligible for a payout. However, you'll need to provide proof that Siri activated unintentionally and recorded private conversations.

Once the settlement is approved, a claims administrator will set up a website where you can confirm your eligibility and file your claim. You'll have until May 15, 2025, to submit your details.

How much compensation could you receive?

The proposed settlement offers $20 per device. However, you're eligible to file a claim for up to five devices, meaning you could receive up to $100. The final compensation amount may be adjusted depending on the number of claims filed and allocated funds for legal fees.

Where will the $95 million go?

Approximately $30 million of the settlement will go towards legal fees and expenses, leaving $65 million for compensating affected users. If the number of approved claims exceeds these funds, the payout amount will be reduced proportionally.

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Apple's response to the eavesdropping allegations

Apple denies the accusations that it uses Siri recordings to target advertisements for users. The company shares the following insights to support its position:

  1. Siri has been engineered to protect user privacy since the beginning.
  2. Siri data has never been used to build marketing profiles or sold to anyone.
  3. Apple uses Siri data to improve the service, highlighting its constant development of privacy protections.
  4. Data collection is minimal, as much as possible is done on-device, and user data is anonymized.
  5. Siri's use of computer-generated transcripts and the opt-in data collection policy (introduced in 2019) further underline Apple's commitment to user privacy.

Concerns about Siri eavesdropping

Apple has denied any wrongdoing in the lawsuit and maintains that the case is a result of wanting to avoid costly litigation fees. Data is collected primarily for improving Siri, with no link to specific users. Apple suggests that only a small percentage of eligible users are likely to file claims.

How to disable Siri on your Apple device

If privacy concerns persist, you can disable Siri on your iPad or Mac:

  • iPhone or iPad: Go to Settings > Siri > Talk to Siri and slide the toggle to Off.
  • Mac: Click the Apple logo > System Settings > Siri & Spotlight > and slide the Ask Siri toggle to Off.

Apple urging users to be cautious regarding fears around artificial intelligence being a source of spying.

The settlement proposal in the Siri class action lawsuit, worth $95 million, includes instructions for users to claim their payout if they owned a Siri-enabled Apple device between specific dates and can provide proof of unintentional activation and recording of private conversations.if you're eligible, you'll be able to file a claim on a website once the settlement is approved, with a deadline of May 15, 2025. Each approved claimant could receive up to $100, depending on the number of claims and allocated funds for legal fees.

The lawsuit alleges that Apple violated user privacy by capturing Siri conversations when the voice assistant was activated accidentally and failed to inform users they were being regularly recorded without consent. One of the plaintiffs in the case mentioned Air Jordan shoes and received targeted ads, illustrating how Siri recording and data sharing might impact users.

Apple denies using Siri recordings for advertising purposes and maintains its commitment to user privacy. However, the settlement highlights the company's need to address concerns about unlawful eavesdropping and the potential misuse of user data. Users concerned about privacy can disable Siri on their devices to protect their information.

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