Apple’s $95M Siri Settlement: Justice or a Mere Slap on the Wrist?
Apple has agreed to a $95 million settlement in a class action lawsuit alleging its Siri voice assistant violated users’ privacy by recording and sharing private conversations without consent. The settlement, filed in Oakland, California, still awaits court approval.
The lawsuit claimed Siri inadvertently recorded private discussions, later shared with advertisers, causing targeted ads. Apple, while denying wrongdoing, agreed to pay affected users up to $20 per Siri-enabled device used between 2014 and 2024.
“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.”
Although the settlement addresses millions of users, the $95 million penalty amounts to just nine hours of Apple’s annual profits—$93.7 billion. Critics argue such fines barely deter privacy violations, framing them as operational costs rather than meaningful penalties.
This settlement echoes broader concerns about tech giants profiting from personal data with limited accountability. As similar lawsuits, such as one against Google, unfold, many question whether these settlements truly uphold user privacy or simply allow corporations to buy their way out of trouble.
