Well, it looks like Apple’s New Year’s resolution to be the good guy took a detour down Eavesdropping Lane. The tech giant has agreed to cough up a whooping $95 million to settle a lawsuit claiming its beloved virtual assistant, Siri, has been playing the role of the nosy neighbor, eavesdropping on unsuspecting customers using iPhones and other devices.
The proposed settlement, filed in a California federal court, marks the culmination of a five-year battle that reveals the not-so-secret life of Siri. Allegations suggest that dear old Siri had a habit of secretly activating and recording conversations for over a decade—even when users didn’t utter the magic words, “Hey, Siri.”
As if that wasn’t eye-raising enough, the lawsuit alleges that some of these alleged recordings were shared with advertisers. Yes, you read that right! Apparently, Siri was moonlighting as a market researcher, helping companies target consumers with products they might actually want.
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Interestingly enough, Apple has had a long-standing mantra of protecting user privacy, which CEO Tim Cook has framed as a noble battle for a “fundamental human right.” It’s a clear contrast to Siri’s alleged eavesdropping antics.
While Apple maintains it did nothing wrong the settlement still awaits the nod of approval from US District Judge Jeffrey White. In a twist of fate, lawyers in the case have proposed a court hearing on February 14—Valentine’s Day.
So who’s entitled to the money? Well if the settlement receives the green light, millions of consumers who owned iPhones and other Apple devices between September 17, 2014, and the end of last year could file claims. Each eligible consumer could pocket up to $20 for each Siri-equipped device. However, given that only an estimated 3% to 5% of eligible consumers are expected to file claims.
Whew!
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