Tech
Apple’s $95M Siri Settlement: How to Claim Your Share
Cupertino, May 12, 2025 – Apple is shelling out $95 million to settle a class-action lawsuit claiming its Siri assistant recorded private conversations without consent. If you used a Siri-enabled device in the U.S., you could be eligible for a payout. Here’s how to claim your share and what the fuss is about, straight from court documents and official sources.
Who Qualifies?
U.S. residents who owned or purchased a Siri-enabled device between September 17, 2014, and December 31, 2024, may be eligible, per court documents. You must confirm under oath that Siri activated unintentionally during a private conversation. Eligible devices include:
- iPhone (6 or newer)
- iPad (all models since 2014)
- Apple Watch (all generations)
- MacBook, iMac, Mac
- HomePod, HomePod Mini
- iPod touch
- Apple TV
The settlement covers tens of millions of users, sparked by 2019 reports of contractors hearing sensitive recordings, like medical talks, per Reuters.
How to Claim Your Payout
Claims are open until July 2, 2025, via the official settlement website. Here’s how to file:
- Visit LopezVoiceAssistantSettlement.com.
- Submit your name, address, email tied to your Apple ID, and either proof of purchase or the serial number/model of each device.
- Swear under oath that Siri activated accidentally during a private conversation.
- Choose payment by direct deposit or electronic check.
You can claim up to five devices, with payouts capped at $20 per device, though amounts may adjust based on total claims, per ClassAction.org. Some users received an email or postcard with a Claim Identification Code to simplify filing, per WIRED. For help, use the website’s contact form.
What Was the Issue?
The lawsuit, filed in 2019 in Oakland, California, alleged Apple violated privacy laws by recording conversations via unintended Siri activations, triggered without “Hey, Siri,” and sharing them with third-party contractors for quality control, per court documents. Examples include discussions about brands like Air Jordan, leading to targeted ads, though Apple denies advertiser sharing, per Reuters. Apple settled to avoid litigation, denying wrongdoing, per ZDNET.
Apple’s Privacy Fixes
Since 2019, Apple has tightened Siri’s privacy protocols, per Apple’s statement:
- Opt-In Training: Users must explicitly agree for Siri recordings to improve the assistant.
- No Audio Storage: Recordings are deleted unless users opt in, with human grading suspended since 2019.
- On-Device Processing: Siri minimizes server data use, relying on random identifiers, not Apple IDs.
Apple insists Siri data was never sold or used for marketing, per Reuters.
Why It Matters
The settlement, awaiting final approval on August 1, 2025, could yield $100 max per household, a fraction of Apple’s $93.74 billion 2024 profit, per Reuters. X posts show mixed sentiment, with one user calling it “a small win for privacy,” per @Dexerto. With a similar Google Voice Assistant case pending, this highlights growing scrutiny on AI assistants. File your claim by July 2 at LopezVoiceAssistantSettlement.com.
