January 2nd 2025.
Apple, the tech giant known for its strong stance on privacy, has recently agreed to pay a hefty sum of $95 million in a settlement for a 5-year-old lawsuit. The lawsuit accused the company of using its popular virtual assistant, Siri, to secretly listen in on conversations of individuals using iPhones and other devices. This news comes after years of Apple championing the protection of its customers' privacy as a fundamental human right.
The proposed settlement, which was filed in federal court on Tuesday, aims to resolve the allegations that Apple had been activating Siri to record conversations without users' knowledge. This practice had reportedly been going on for over a decade, even when the virtual assistant was not triggered by its designated command, "Hey, Siri." The recorded conversations were then allegedly shared with advertisers to target consumers for their products and services.
These claims about Siri's snooping behavior go against Apple's long-standing commitment to safeguard the privacy of its customers. CEO Tim Cook has been vocal about the company's mission to protect the fundamental human right to privacy. However, the settlement does not require Apple to admit any wrongdoing on their part. The terms of the settlement will still need to be approved by U.S. District Judge Jeffrey White, with a court hearing scheduled for February 14 in Oakland, California.
If the settlement is approved, it will allow millions of consumers who owned iPhones and other Apple devices between September 2014 and the end of last year to file claims. Each consumer could receive up to $20 per device equipped with Siri, although the amount may vary depending on the number of claims filed. The estimated percentage of eligible consumers who will file claims is only 3% to 5%, as stated in court documents. Additionally, eligible consumers will only be able to seek compensation for a maximum of five devices.
The settlement amount of $95 million is a small fraction of the massive $705 billion profits that Apple has earned since September 2014. It is also significantly lower than the $1.5 billion that lawyers representing consumers had initially estimated Apple might have to pay if the case had gone to trial and the company was found guilty of violating wiretapping and privacy laws. The attorneys who filed the lawsuit may also seek up to $29.6 million from the settlement fund to cover their fees and expenses, as stated in court documents.
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