Jan 18, 2025, Apple’s Siri was introduced in 2011 and has become a commonly used feature of iPhones, iPads, and other Apple devices. In 2014, Apple introduced the “Hey, Siri” phrase, intended to ensure the assistant only responded when explicitly mentioned. However, the lawsuit alleged that Siri often recorded users even when they had not triggered it, resulting in unintentional data capture.

In 2019, a whistleblower revealed that Apple contractors were tasked with reviewing Siri recordings to improve the assistant’s functionality. These recordings included private conversations captured without users activating Siri’s wake phrase, “Hey, Siri.” Apple was accused of violating California privacy laws by recording and analyzing these conversations without consent and alleged that the data was used for marketing and product development. Fumiko Lopez, the lead plaintiff, stated, “At no point did Plaintiff’s consent to these unlawful recordings.”

Apple denied tying these recordings to personal identifiers but admitted to reviewing user data to enhance Siri’s performance. As part of the settlement, Apple will compensate individuals who used Siri-enabled devices between 2014 and 2024. This case has sparked significant concerns about user privacy in the tech industry, emphasizing the need for stricter protections against unauthorized data collection.

The lawsuit highlighted that the recordings sometimes included highly sensitive personal information, leading to widespread outrage and calls for transparency in how tech companies handle user data. The legal complaint added, “Apple and these Siri Devices unlawfully recorded Plaintiffs on multiple occasions, including when they failed to utter a wake phrase.”