Apple’s Siri Recording Settlement Explained Simply

Apple has agreed to pay $95 million (about Rs 810 crore) to settle a lawsuit about its voice assistant, Siri. The lawsuit claimed that Siri sometimes recorded people without their permission.

What Happened?

The lawsuit, called Lopez v. Apple, was filed in California in 2021. It said that devices with Siri (like iPhones and iPads) sometimes turned on by accident and recorded private conversations. The lawsuit claimed Apple then shared these recordings with other companies, including advertisers.

Some users noticed they started seeing ads for products they had only talked about in private conversations. This made them suspect their devices were listening to them without permission.

The Settlement

While Apple says it did nothing wrong, the company decided to pay $95 million to end the lawsuit instead of fighting it in court for a long time.

People in the US who owned Siri devices between September 17, 2014, and December 31, 2024, and whose conversations were accidentally recorded, may be able to get money from this settlement.

Who Can Get Money?

You might qualify for payment if you owned or used any of these Apple devices with Siri:

  • iPhones
  • iPads
  • Apple Watches
  • MacBooks
  • iMacs
  • Apple TVs
  • HomePods
  • iPod Touches

People can claim up to $20 for each device they owned, for up to five devices. This means some people could receive up to $100. The final amount may be lower depending on how many people submit claims.

How to Submit a Claim

If you think you qualify, you can submit a claim by visiting the official Lopez Voice Assistant Settlement website. Some people have received a claim ID by email or mail, which makes filing faster, but you don’t need one to submit a claim.

The deadline to submit a claim is July 2, 2025.

Why Did This Lawsuit Start?

The lawsuit began after a 2019 news report by The Guardian. The report revealed that Apple contractors could listen to private Siri recordings. At that time, Apple said they only used these recordings to make Siri work better, and that only a small number of recordings were ever reviewed by humans.

Despite Apple’s explanation, many users were concerned because they noticed ads for products they had only discussed verbally near their devices. This made them think their private conversations were being listened to and shared with advertisers.

What Happens Next?

A judge will make a final decision about the settlement on August 1, 2025. If approved, eligible users who submitted claims will receive their payments after that date.

Apple’s Response

Throughout this process, Apple has denied doing anything wrong. The company says it agreed to the settlement to avoid a lengthy and expensive court battle. Apple has also made changes to how Siri works since the lawsuit was filed, giving users more control over their voice recordings.

Privacy Concerns

This case highlights growing concerns about privacy in the age of smart devices. Many people worry about how much their phones, smart speakers, and other devices are listening to them and what happens to that information.

The settlement reminds us that it’s important to review privacy settings on our devices and understand how voice assistants work. Most devices allow users to disable voice recording or delete past recordings.

Summary

If you owned an Apple device with Siri between 2014 and 2024, and you think it may have recorded you without permission, you might be eligible for up to $100 in compensation. You can submit a claim through the official settlement website before July 2, 2025.

This settlement is part of a larger conversation about privacy and technology, as consumers become more aware of how their personal information is collected and used by tech companies.


This blog post is for informational purposes only