Apple's $95 million Siri settlement deadline nears: How to get your cash
Users who have owned an Apple device since 2014 have until Wednesday, July 2, to be eligible to receive part of the class action lawsuit.
The lawsuit, Lopez v. Apple, was filed in a California federal court in 2021 by users who allege that their private conversations were being recorded by their Apple devices after they unintentionally activated Siri. Although a settlement has been reached, Apple has denied the allegations made in the complaint, according to the legal notice obtained by USA TODAY.
"If you owned or purchased a Siri-enabled device and experienced an unintended Siri activation during a confidential or private communication between Sept. 17, 2014, and Dec. 31, 2024, you should read this Notice as it may impact your legal rights," the legal notice states.
According to the legal notice, the following are Siri-enabled devices:
iPhones
iPads
Apple Watches
MacBooks
iMacs
HomePods
iPod touches
Apple TVs
The lawsuit's FAQ page states that a court hearing to approve the settlement is tentatively scheduled for August 1.
If the settlement amount is approved, those who claimed devices will receive their share.
The lawsuit alleges that people's "confidential or private communications were allegedly obtained by Apple and/or shared with third parties as a result of an unintended Siri activation."
Siri, a voice assistant activated by saying "Hey, Siri," can set reminders, control smart home devices and make recommendations.
However, users in the class action lawsuit claim their Apple devices were recording them without their consent and subsequently sending their information to advertisers who used it to target them with online ads.
Users claimed they saw ads on their phones for specific brands after discussing them aloud, and others said their devices listened to them without them having said anything at all. The initial lawsuit, filed on March 17, 2021, cites a 2019 article from The Guardian that found Apple's third-party contractors regularly heard confidential information. At the time, Apple said only a small portion of data was shared to help improve Siri and dictation.
The eligibility requirements are broad but are open to anyone who has owned or purchased a Siri-enabled device between Sept. 17, 2014, and Dec. 31, 2024. To opt in, you will swear under oath that you experienced an unintended Siri activation while having a private conversation.
The Lopez Voice Assistant Settlement website allows Apple customers to claim a portion of the settlement. Some users received an email or postcard with a claim identification code and confirmation code that can be used to make the claim. If not, you can still submit a claim online.
Payments for each device are capped at $20.00, but claimants may receive less depending on the total number of claims submitted.
Each individual can claim payments for up to five devices, so the maximum payout for each person is $100.
Julia is a trending reporter for USA TODAY. Connect with her on LinkedIn, X, Instagram and TikTok: @juliamariegz, or email her at jgomez@gannett.com
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Apple's $95 million settlement over Siri claims: How to get your share
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