Apple has reached a $95 million settlement agreement in a class action lawsuit concerning privacy violations related to its Siri virtual assistant. The lawsuit alleges that Siri inadvertently recorded private conversations and shared them with third-party advertisers without user consent.

Settlement Details:
– Covers U.S. owners of Siri-enabled devices from September 2014 to December 2024
– Users can claim up to $20 per device (maximum 5 devices)
– Lead plaintiffs may receive up to $10,000
– Preliminary approval hearing scheduled for February 14, 2025
– Claims submission deadline: June 29, 2025

Key Requirements:
– Apple must delete all violating Siri recordings within six months
– Implement clearer user disclosures about Siri privacy settings
– Establish a non-reversionary fund for payments and legal fees

The lawsuit, filed by Fumiko Lopez, John Troy Pappas, and David Yacubian, claims violations of the federal Wiretap Act and California’s Invasion of Privacy Act.

Protecting Privacy with Siri:
Users can enhance their privacy by:
– Disabling “Hey Siri” voice activation
– Turning off “Raise to Speak” on Apple Watch
– Restricting Siri access for sensitive apps
– Disabling lock screen and search suggestions
– Regularly clearing Siri and dictation history

The settlement awaits final court approval and may be subject to modifications based on submitted objections.