Apple denies wrongdoing but agrees to pay millions after claims that Siri recorded users’ private conversations without permission.
Apple has agreed to pay $95 million to settle a class action lawsuit alleging that Siri, its voice assistant, secretly recorded users’ private conversations without consent. Plaintiffs claim Siri was activated unintentionally and captured sensitive audio, sometimes shared with third parties. Apple denies the allegations but settled to avoid further litigation. If you used a Siri-enabled device between 2014 and 2024, you could be eligible for compensation.
Hey, Siri! What’s the nearest pizza place?
Hey, Siri! How do you spell “unconscionable”?
Hey, Siri! Remind me to take my medicine at 8 p.m.”
Hey, Siri! Send a text to Mom.
Hey, Siri! What time is my appointment today?
So many questions, so little time.
For some people, Hey, Siri! is part of their daily lexicon, and its responses are part of their life management, schedule, information-seeking, and more.
One thing people sometimes forget is that for Siri to give you information, it has to take information. Every time you activate Siri with a voice command, it’s recording what you say (yes, for the purposes of this article, we’re calling Siri “it” and not “she” because Siri isn’t a person).
Apple, the operating system that runs Siri, isn’t providing tools solely for your convenience and a good user experience, though. Of course the company wants to be on the forefront of producing tools and apps that people want to make their lives easier and more technologically streamlined, but there are other factors. One is that every voice prompt or search you perform gives the company information that’s very valuable to marketers. Even knowing seemingly benign information like how often you ask Siri for the number to your favorite restaurant is worthwhile to companies that are trying to use this information to figure out your habits and market effectively.
With all great technology—lots of it is great for lots of reasons—there can be downsides. Recently, Apple agreed to a $95 million settlement in a class-action lawsuit alleging that Siri inadvertently recorded users’ private conversations without their consent. Plaintiff Fumiko Lopez filed a lawsuit in 2021, claiming Siri recorded him without consent after becoming activated accidentally. These recordings were shared with third parties that include advertisers.
Siri class action lawsuit
The Lopez lawsuit eventually led to a class action, which means many more plaintiffs became included.
A class action lawsuit allows a court to handle many similar claims at once, rather than requiring each individual to file their own lawsuit. There’s a lead plaintiff who files the initial lawsuit (sometimes called the class representative), and the larger group is called the class.
If the plaintiffs win the lawsuit or reach a settlement, the damages are divided among the members of the class.
Who is eligible to join the Apple-Siri class action lawsuit?
Any U.S. resident who owned or used a Siri-enabled Apple device between September 17, 2014 and December 21, 2024, and who experienced unintended Siri activations during private conversations might be eligible.
Devices included in the lawsuit are iPhone, iPad, Apple Watch, MacBook, iMac, HomePod, iPod touch and Apple TV.
Each claimant could receive up to $20 for each eligible device, with a maximum of $100 for up to five devices. The actual payout could vary depending on the number of valid claims submitted.
The deadline to submit a claim is July 2, 2025, and a final approval hearing is scheduled for August 1, 2025.
How to file a claim for the Apple-Siri class action lawsuit
Some consumers received direct email notifications of the Apple-Siri class action lawsuit. You can still file a claim even if you didn’t receive notice, however. You must provide proof of device ownership and attest to unintended Siri activations during private conversations.
Your claim can be submitted here.
Payments will be distributed by check, e-check or direct deposit later in 2025, following the final approval hearing in August and if no appeals are filed.
A settlement was reached without Apple admitting liability, which is typical in a class action lawsuit.
Apple and the Siri “spying” lawsuit
The Siri “spying” class action lawsuit against Apple raises important legal issues about consumer privacy, consent, and the use of voice-activated technology. While Apple denies wrongdoing, it agreed to the $95 million settlement to resolve claims that Siri recorded and shared private conversations without users’ permission.
Legal basis for the Siri lawsuit
- Violation of privacy
The plaintiffs allege that Siri recorded private conversations without the users having intended to activate it by using accidental “wake words.”
This could violate laws like Wiretap Acts (for instance, the California Invasion of Privacy Act) and common law privacy torts like intrusion upon seclusion.
At issue was whether users gave informed consent for Siri to collect audio when accidentally triggered. For instance, there were reports that the app activated when a user said, “seriously” rather than “Hey Siri.” The court must weigh whether accidental activation amounts to implied consent or if there must be stronger safeguards.
- Consumer protection and misrepresentation
Apple was accused of making misleading representations about how Siri handles data. Users were led to believe that the app would only activate with intentional commands and wouldn’t store personal conversations. Plaintiffs argued that it violated state consumer fraud statutes that prohibit deceptive practices.
Siri’s alleged functioning highlights growing concerns about how AI-powered assistants collect and process sensitive information. This leading to various legal challenges related to transparency in AI systems, retention and use of voice data and automated decisionmaking and privacy rights.
- Unlawful disclosure of data
The lawsuit also alleges that Apple shared snippets of Siri recordings with contractors or third parties without user knowledge or consent.
One of the most serious claims in the lawsuit was that Apple shared audio recordings with contractors (for example, for transcription) without informing consumers. Courts increasingly view the unauthorized transfer of personal data as a form of harm, even if no financial loss occurs.
Future of Apple and the tech industry
Although the settlement did not establish liability, it does set a precedent for how future privacy claims could be handled in court. This might be an impetus for Apple improving privacy disclosures, adjusting Siri’s activation sensitivity, and limiting or restructuring human review of recordings.
It could also have broader implications for the tech industry, generally. It already adds to a trend of class actions that target AI voice assistants that include Amazon Alexa and Google Assistant. Tech companies are facing pressure to provide clear opt-in or opt-out mechanisms for users; disclose how and when devices record users; and implement data minimization practices.
What can you do to protect yourself from AI listening?
It’s important to understand the settings and privacy controls for any device you own or operate. You can:
- Review voice assistant permissions
- Disable always-on listening
- Regularly delete stored voice recordings
If you aren’t sure how to do these things, you could search instructions online, call or visit an Apple Store or customer care center (or the equivalent for a non-Apple device), or consult a private tech service.
The Apple-Siri class action settlement reflects growing legal recognition that accidental data collection can still violate privacy rights—even without malicious intent. As voice-activated technology becomes more common, companies must be more transparent, and users must be more aware of what these devices might be recording.
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