Is your technology spying on you?

A lawsuit against Apple alleges that some users’ devices were recording conversations when Siri was accidentally activated. 

Despite Apple denying any wrongdoing, they’ve agreed to a $95 million settlement.

The lawsuit, which began in 2019, claimed that Apple devices were capturing confidential talks without permission.

Users argued that these recordings took place after unintended activations of Siri.

“The plaintiffs claimed that Siri started recording their conversations when they accidentally said ‘Siri’,” explained Dale Appell, an attorney not involved in the lawsuit.

According to FOX Business, a preliminary settlement was lodged last week in a federal court in Oakland, California. 

Frank Kerney, Managing Partner at The Consumer Lawyers, highlighted the issue with targeted ads, saying, “When you mention something like Air Jordan sneakers in a conversation, and then see ads for them, that’s exactly what the lawsuit is about.” 

The suit suggests these recordings were shared with third parties, like advertisers, following accidental Siri triggers.

“They’re always listening for that trigger word to respond,” said James McQuiggan, a security awareness advocate at KnowBe4. “But they aren’t continuously recording, just listening.”

Appell noted that the evidence seemed to be based solely on the experiences of the plaintiffs.

“The evidence relied on the plaintiffs’ personal experiences, with some wondering how mentioning a brand led to seeing ads for it the next day,” Appell explained.

Despite denying any misconduct, Apple has agreed to settle.

“Siri is designed with privacy in mind. Its data has never been used for marketing or sold,” an Apple spokesperson told FOX Business. “We settled to avoid further legal disputes and focus on enhancing Siri’s privacy.”

Apple also stressed to FOX Business that Siri data isn’t used for marketing profiles or sold.

FOX Business reports that potentially millions of class members could claim up to $20 per Siri-enabled device, like iPhones or Apple Watches, for the period from September 17, 2014, to December 31, 2024, when the “Hey, Siri” feature was introduced.

McQuiggan described data as the new gold, warning, “If a service is free, we’re likely the product.”

He advises users to be cautious about privacy settings on tech devices.

“Many of us just click ‘accept’ on privacy notices without reading them,” McQuiggan noted. “This should change for better transparency.”

The $95 million settlement might be a minor cost for Apple.

“Holding onto this issue for $95 million could be considered a victory for Apple,” Appell remarked.

Kerney believes this settlement could prompt consumers to think twice about privacy settings.

“Consumers now have more control over whether to allow these technologies to use their microphone,” Kerney said. “If you’re fine with ads, use it; if not, turn it off.”

Currently, a similar lawsuit against Google’s Voice Assistant is ongoing in San Jose.

Kerney predicts more such lawsuits could arise, stating, “We’re allowing ourselves to be monitored, hoping it’s handled responsibly by these corporations.”

A California judge will review the settlement motion in February.

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