Apple has settled a class action lawsuit for Rs 815 crores ($95 million) in the United States. As part of the case, the company was accused of using Siri conversation recordings for targeted advertising. Although Apple denied all the allegations, the case has been settled raising several privacy concerns among Siri users. Thousands of users can receive Rs 1,700 ($20) each. Here are the details of the case.
Apple Accused of Using Siri Conversations for Targeted Advertising
Back in September 2021, a class action lawsuit was filed against Apple. Although, the first lawsuit was filed in February 2021. This primarily pertained to the issue when it was found that the brand used contractors to analyse Siri recordings to improve it but was dismissed due to lack of proper evidence.
Several people complained that Apple was using recorded conversations with Siri, even when the digital Assistant was activated accidentally using the voice command “Hey Siri.”
One of the complainants mentioned that his private conversation with his doctor about a specific ‘branded surgical treatment’ resulted in numerous targeted ads on the same topic. Two more users complained that their discussions related to Air Jordan sneakers and Pit Viper sunglasses ended up as ad suggestions on their Apple devices.
The complainants say they did not interact with Siri regarding these topics. However, they mention that Siri sometimes gets accidentally activated by using hot words similar to ‘Hey Siri.” Even if Siri is enabled by mistake, the plaintiffs allege that Apple records these conversations secretly.
Since the filing of this lawsuit in 2021, Apple has straight up denied any wrongdoing. However, the company has not shared any details or data to prove its innocence.
Apple Settles Lawsuit for Rs 815 Crores
In the latest turn of events, the case has received preliminary approval and Apple has agreed to settle the same class action lawsuit for Rs 815 crore ($95 million). Every affected user (whose recordings were obtained by Apple between September 17, 2014, and December 31, 2024) is eligible to receive Rs 1,700 ($20) per Siri-enabled device as a part of the settlement. However, Apple continues to deny the allegations, and the case has been settled only to close this chapter.
Apple is expected to open a portal where users can submit their claims to receive compensation. The claims can be submitted until May 15, 2025, following which the people will start getting the payments. Details on this will be available soon over the next few weeks.
Apple’s decision to opt for a settlement leaves us with mixed reactions. On one hand, it is worth wondering why the company settled the case if they were innocent. Apple is a litigious company and has a history of dragging cases in courts until justice is served. It is evident from its history of Apple vs Epic Games, Apple vs Spotify, Apple vs Google, and many other lawsuits.
However, on the corporate side of things, it sometimes costs Apple more money to fight the case than to settle it. This is due to high litigation costs, damage to reputation, and many other factors. Hence, it is possible that Apple settled the case instead of dragging it longer.
So what are your thoughts on the case? Do you trust Apple with your private data? Let us know your thoughts across our social media handles @mysmartprice.
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