Apple has agreed to pay $95 million to settle a class-action lawsuit alleging that its Siri voice assistant unlawfully recorded users’ private conversations without consent.
The lawsuit, filed in an Oakland federal court, claimed that Siri was inadvertently activated, leading to the recording of confidential discussions, which were then shared with third parties, including advertisers.
The proposed settlement, pending approval from U.S. District Judge Jeffrey White, covers U.S. consumers who owned Siri-enabled devices between September 17, 2014, and December 31, 2024.
Apple denies any wrongdoing but has agreed to the settlement to resolve the dispute.
Expert Analysis:
This settlement underscores the critical importance of user privacy and the challenges tech companies face in safeguarding personal data.
The inadvertent activation of voice assistants like Siri, leading to unauthorized recordings, highlights vulnerabilities in voice recognition technologies.
While Apple has positioned itself as a champion of user privacy, this incident reveals the complexities and potential pitfalls in ensuring that commitment.
It is imperative for technology companies to implement robust safeguards, conduct regular audits, and maintain transparency with users to uphold trust and comply with privacy standards.
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