$95 Million Apple Settlement: Eligibility, How to Claim

Notifications are currently being sent out to a large group of Apple device owners, notifying them that they may be eligible to claim a portion of a $95 million class action settlement. This lawsuit was initiated due to concerns over Siri “listening in” on conversations when users had not intentionally activated the voice assistant.

The lawsuit, known as Lopez v. Apple, was filed in 2019 in the U.S. District Court of Northern California. It alleged that Apple contractors had encountered instances where Siri activations seemed inadvertent, resulting in the capture of private conversations. This followed a report from The Guardian that indicated these recordings sometimes contained sensitive information, such as medical details.

Multiple plaintiffs in the case claimed that their personal data, found in unintended Siri recordings, had ended up in the hands of advertisers. They reported seeing targeted ads related to topics discussed in the vicinity of Siri devices, such as specific brands and products. These recordings were captured after users had granted permission for Apple to use their data to improve Siri, as part of a routine permissions request.

While Apple has agreed to a preliminary settlement to avoid further legal proceedings, the company maintains that it has not engaged in any wrongdoing. In a statement released in January, Apple emphasized that it has never used Siri data for marketing purposes, made it available for advertising, or sold it to any third parties.

Despite Apple’s denials, the Lopez v. Apple lawsuit has sparked concerns about privacy and contributed to the ongoing apprehension among Americans regarding the potential surveillance by their smart devices. The settlement agreement presents an opportunity for affected users to seek compensation for their grievances.

The settlement website has started accepting claims from individuals who owned specific Apple devices between September 17, 2014, and December 31, 2024. To be eligible for compensation, claimants must confirm that they experienced unintended Siri activations during confidential or private conversations.

Eligible individuals can submit claims for a payment of up to $20 per device, with a maximum of five Siri-enabled devices. The final amount awarded will be determined based on the total number of valid claims received.

Users who suspect they may have had unintended Siri activations can check for email notifications from the “Lopez Voice Assistant Settlement Administrator.” These emails contain a claimant identification code and confirmation code, indicating potential eligibility for the settlement.

For those without a confirmation code, it is still possible to submit a claim by providing additional information, such as device serial numbers. The deadline for submitting claims for eligible Apple devices is July 2.

Once the settlement is finalized, which includes an approval hearing scheduled for August 1, it may take some time before individuals receive their compensation. The distribution of settlement payments can be delayed due to potential appeals or other legal processes.

In conclusion, the Apple settlement offers affected users the chance to seek recompense for alleged privacy violations related to Siri activations. It is essential for eligible individuals to review the requirements for claiming compensation and submit their claims before the deadline to potentially receive payment for their grievances.