Apple has denied allegations of misusing Siri voice assistant data after agreeing to a $95 million settlement in a class action lawsuit. The case stemmed from claims that Siri was unintentionally activated by “hot words” like “Hey Siri” and recorded private conversations. These were then allegedly shared with third parties, including advertisers, without user consent. Apple emphasised that it has never sold user data or used it for targeted marketing purposes.
In its statement addressing public concerns, Apple clarified: “Apple has never used Siri data to build marketing profiles, never made it available for advertising, and never sold it to anyone for any purpose.” The company stressed that Siri only accesses its servers in real-time to deliver accurate results, using minimal data to perform these tasks.
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Apple further stated that Siri audio recordings are not retained unless users explicitly opt in. For those who do opt in, recordings are used strictly to improve Siri’s functionality. Apple reiterated its commitment to protecting personal data, describing privacy as a cornerstone of its philosophy.
The case has drawn comparisons to a similar lawsuit against Google over its Voice Assistant. This case is currently pending in federal court in San Jose, California, involving the same law firms representing the plaintiffs in the Apple lawsuit. Eligible Apple users may receive up to $20 per Siri-enabled device, including iPhones and Apple Watches, under the settlement terms.
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