Apple has recently decided to resolve a class action lawsuit by agreeing to a $95 million settlement. The lawsuit alleged that Siri, Apple’s voice assistant, inadvertently recorded private conversations and subsequently shared this data with third-party advertisers.
The issue revolves around voice assistants that are constantly on standby, listening for specific triggers like “Hey Siri” to activate. The lawsuit claims that Siri sometimes activated by mistake, capturing conversations that weren’t intended for the virtual assistant. An interesting case mentioned in the lawsuit involves an Apple user who received ads for surgical treatments after discussing those treatments with a doctor. Other users reported seeing ads for specific brands after mere casual mentions.
Although Apple has opted to settle, the company continues to deny any misconduct. As part of the settlement agreement, owners of Siri-enabled devices might receive up to $20 each. However, this settlement is still pending approval by a US District Judge.
The controversy over Siri’s accidental activations isn’t entirely new. Back in 2019, a report surfaced indicating that Apple employed external contractors to review snippets of Siri recordings, which were meant to improve the service and resolve issues related to unintended activations. In response to the backlash, Apple promptly terminated the program.
This case underscores the ongoing concerns about privacy and data security in the digital age, as tech companies grapple with safeguarding user trust while balancing technological advancements.
