Apple has been fined $815 million for allegedly spying on users through its virtual assistant, Siri, by secretly recording conversations via iPhones and other devices. The lawsuit claims that some of the recorded conversations were shared with advertisers to target consumers more effectively.
The world’s leading tech company, Apple, has agreed to pay $9.5 million (approximately ₹815 crore) to settle the Siri spying case. The proposed settlement, filed in federal courts in California and Oakland, aims to resolve a five-year-old lawsuit.
The allegations stem from Apple’s secret ability to activate Siri to record conversations through iPhones and other devices equipped with the virtual assistant for over a decade. The lawsuit claims that some of these recorded conversations were shared with advertisers, allowing them to target consumers more effectively with tailored products and services. However, Apple is not admitting to any wrongdoing as part of the settlement. Attorneys involved in the case have proposed a court hearing in Oakland on February 14 to review the terms of the agreement.
Settlement Details
If the agreement is approved, consumers who owned iPhones and other Apple devices from September 17, 2014, to the end of 2023 will be eligible for compensation. Each user could receive up to $20 per Siri device covered under the settlement. However, the actual payout may vary depending on the volume of claims.
A fund of $9.5 million has been established to cover the settlement terms. As part of the agreement, Apple must ensure that it deletes any inadvertently recorded conversations and clarify how Siri uses voice data.
Financial Impact
The settlement represents a small fraction of Apple’s $705 billion in profits since 2014. If the case proceeds to trial and Apple is found to have violated wiretapping and privacy laws, the company may face additional financial penalties.
