The clock is ticking for a significant number of Apple device owners to claim their portion of a hefty $95 million class-action settlement. This privacy lawsuit stems from allegations that Siri was “listening in” on users without their explicit activation of the voice assistant, raising serious questions about user privacy and data security.
In 2019, a legal action was initiated in the U.S. District Court of Northern California, asserting that Apple contractors had inadvertently activated Siri, leading to the capture of private conversations. The case, known as Lopez v. Apple, came to light following a report from The Guardian, which revealed that these recordings occasionally encompassed sensitive information, including medical details and other private audio.
The lawsuit featured claims from multiple plaintiffs who argued that their personal data—captured in unintended Siri recordings—was misused by advertisers. They reported seeing suspicious advertisements after discussing topics such as Olive Garden, Air Jordan sneakers, and various other products in close proximity to their Siri devices, as detailed in the complaint.
This case examined recordings that were activated after users opted into a standard permissions request, which allowed Apple to utilize their data aimed at enhancing Siri’s performance. Apple maintained that it was responsible in handling this data, emphasizing restrictions on its usage and assuring consumers of their data protection practices.
Although Apple reached a preliminary settlement to avert protracted litigation, the company remains firm in its denial of any wrongdoing. In a statement released in January, Apple reiterated that it “has never utilized Siri data for constructing marketing profiles, has not made it available for advertising, and has never sold it to any third parties for any purpose.”
Nonetheless, the Lopez v. Apple lawsuit has amplified concerns surrounding privacy rights and has intensified the apprehensions among Americans—whether justified or not—that they are perpetually monitored by their phones and other smart devices, including Alexa and Google Nest speakers. On the financial side, the settlement presents a vital opportunity for affected users to receive some form of compensation for their experiences.
In May, a dedicated settlement website commenced accepting claims from impacted individuals who owned specific Apple devices during a ten-year timeframe, spanning from September 17, 2014, to December 31, 2024.
As of June 4, millions of claims have already been submitted, according to a court filing from Angeion, the claims administration firm responsible for processing submissions. The filing indicated that the “potential class for purposes of notice” encompasses “well over 100 million individuals,” highlighting the extensive reach of this settlement.
Are you still contemplating your claim? Here’s a comprehensive guide to everything you need to know regarding the Apple settlement:
Eligibility Criteria for Claiming the Apple Settlement
To qualify for compensation, you must reside in the U.S. and be a “current or former owner or purchaser of a Siri Device.” Furthermore, you must provide an oath attesting to the fact that “you experienced an unintended Siri activation” during the specified period and that “the unintended Siri activation occurred during a conversation that was intended to be confidential or private.”
A Siri device can include an iPhone, but the settlement also encompasses unintended voice assistant activations on various other devices, such as the iPad, Apple Watch, MacBook, iMac, HomePod, iPod touch, and Apple TV.
Potential Compensation from the Apple Settlement
Individuals classified as members of the settlement class—meaning those who fulfill all the eligibility criteria—can submit claims for a reimbursement of up to $20 per device for a maximum of five Siri-enabled devices. The ultimate payout “will vary proportionally based on the total number of valid claims submitted and the number of Siri devices claimed,” as stated on the Lopez Voice Assistant Settlement webpage.
The settlement website facilitates the submission of necessary information to obtain a share of the settlement, which includes your name, address, contact details, and your preferred payment method.
Identifying Unintended Siri Activations
On older models, Siri could be activated by pressing and holding the home button. For more recent iPhone models, holding the side button activates Siri. Additionally, Siri includes a listening feature that can be enabled, allowing users to activate the voice assistant by saying, “Hey, Siri.”
The settlement class comprises individuals who confirm that Siri captured private conversations without any intentional activation by the user.
Some users may have received an email in May from the “Lopez Voice Assistant Settlement Administrator” that included a claimant identification code along with a confirmation code. This email indicates: “Apple’s records suggest that you may belong to the Settlement Class and may be eligible for a payment.”
Submitting an Apple Settlement Claim Without a Confirmation Code
Yes, it is still possible to submit a claim even if you do not possess a confirmation code. However, you will be required to answer additional questions and provide device serial numbers. To start the process, click the “new claim” button located on the “submit claim” tab of the settlement website.
Important Deadline for the Apple Settlement Claims
Individuals affected by this situation can file claims for Apple devices they owned or purchased from September 17, 2014, until December 31, 2024, with the submission period closing on July 2 (which falls on a Wednesday).
Claims must be submitted online before 11:59 p.m. PST or postmarked no later than July 2 to be considered valid.
Timeline for Payouts from the Apple Settlement
The settlement process has yet to reach its conclusion—an approval hearing is set for August 1, and factoring in the potential for appeals, it may take months or even years before individuals receive their settlement payments. Among other considerations, the plaintiffs’ attorneys are seeking approval for a fee amounting to 30% of the $95 million fund.
Typically, it takes a significant amount of time for class-action lawsuits and their settlements to finalize. For instance, in April, payments of approximately $40 were finally distributed in a Facebook settlement that parent company Meta reached in 2022.
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