Apple's $95m (£77m) payout over Siri privacy breach allegations
Apple has agreed to pay a $95 million (£77 million) fine as part of a settlement following a class-action lawsuit that alleged the voice-activated assistant Siri violated users' privacy. Apple employees were reportedly listening in on iPhone users.
Apple will pay a $95 (£77) million fine as part of the settlement, reports Reuters. The agency reported that at the end of 2024, a preliminary settlement application was filed in the federal court in Oakland, California, which still requires approval from a district judge.
Apple agrees to a settlement and will pay a $95 (£77) million fine
The issue concerns mobile device owners who complained that Apple recorded their private conversations after activating the voice assistant Siri. The contents of these conversations were then disclosed, for example, to advertisers. This resulted in immediate and suspicious suggestions regarding products and services.
"Two plaintiffs said their mentions of Air Jordan sneakers and Olive Garden restaurants triggered ads for those products. Another said he got ads for a brand name surgical treatment after discussing it, he thought privately, with his doctor," reported Reuters.
Apple denied any wrongdoing but agreed to the settlement. Neither the company nor its lawyers responded to Reuters' request for a comment on the matter.
The agency notes that $95 (£77) million is equivalent to about nine hours of Apple's operating profit. The giant's net income exceeded $93 (£75) billion in the last fiscal year.
