While enjoying Siri's voice assistant features, Apple was 'accidentally' recording private conversations. According to Reuters, Apple agreed to pay $95 million to settle a class-action lawsuit over Siri's frequent 'accidental' recordings of users' private conversations. Under the settlement agreement reached by Apple, the $95 million will be distributed evenly to each device that recorded conversations without the user's consent, with each user receiving about $20 in compensation.
Siri recording case characterized as a consumer dispute
The Siri class-action lawsuit accuses Apple’s voice assistant Siri of intercepting voice and violating users' privacy rights. Plaintiffs claim users were 'listened to' without their knowledge, and Siri could be accidentally triggered. Additionally, plaintiffs allege that Apple disclosed these accidental recordings to third parties as part of what they claimed was a 'quality improvement program.'
Siri voice assistant suspected of monitoring users' conversations
Two plaintiffs pointed out that after discussing Olive Garden restaurant, Easton baseball bats, and Pit Viper sunglasses, they began receiving ads for these brands. Another man spoke to his doctor using a Siri device and then received targeted medical advertisements.
According to the plaintiffs' description, when Siri is activated, phones, watches, and home speakers record user conversations, and Apple discloses this content to third parties without user consent.
There is no concrete evidence in this lawsuit to confirm whether Siri has become a digital spy, recording users' conversations. California District Judge Jeffrey White 'denied' Apple's motion to dismiss the users' claims and stated that this case does not require oral arguments.
An Apple spokesperson declined to comment on the case. Court documents show that DLA Piper and Morrison & Foerster law firms stated that Apple denies any wrongdoing and points out that the plaintiffs' claims are 'predicated on conjecture.'
Apple stated that Siri's recording function is related to a random identifier, not the user's Apple ID, name, or email address, and is only used for the purpose of 'improving Siri,' not for marketing.
Americans generally place a high value on privacy rights, and the legal fees incurred in suing Apple are substantial and time-consuming. Although Apple was ordered to pay $95 million by the court, each user averages only $20, equivalent to the current price of a bagel and a cup of coffee for breakfast. Americans are fighting for their private space, not to be treated as 'products' by tech companies.
OpenAI announced in June this year a partnership with Apple to integrate ChatGPT into the 'Apple experience.' Is the 'User' really becoming a 'used' user to train machines? Can consumers be reassured? Although public statements indicate that OpenAI will not store Siri user data and IP locations, Apple indeed collaborates with many 'third parties,' which Apple confirmed is for better 'user experience' purposes.
This article is reprinted with permission from: (Chain News)
'Siri recorded private conversations! Apple ordered to pay $95 million, and each user only gets breakfast money?' This article was first published in 'Encrypted City'
