Apple Agrees to Pay $95 Million to Settle Eavesdropping Allegations

Apple has agreed to pay $95 million to settle a class-action lawsuit. The lawsuit claims that the voice assistant 'Siri' listened to users' private conversations without their consent and shared this information with third parties, such as advertisers. According to the complaint, iPhone users alleged that Apple recorded their private conversations after 'Siri' was inadvertently activated. Some plaintiffs stated that after discussing 'Air Jordan' shoes and 'Olive Garden' restaurant, they received advertisements for these products. Another plaintiff mentioned receiving ads about a specific treatment method after a private medical consultation. The plaintiffs claimed that Apple recorded these conversations without obtaining user consent, and in one case, failed to obtain consent from a plaintiff who was a minor and did not have an Apple account. This preliminary agreement has been filed in the federal court in Oakland, California, and now requires approval from District Judge Jeffrey White. Despite agreeing to this settlement, Apple continues to deny the allegations. The $95 million settlement is equivalent to about 9 hours of Apple's profit and reflects the company's effort to conclude a case that has garnered significant attention.