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The tech giant addresses allegations of Siri eavesdropping in a major legal payout
Apple, the poster child for tech innovation and privacy (or so they claim), has agreed to shell out a whopping $95 million to settle a class-action lawsuit. The legal drama? Accusations that Siri, Apple's AI-powered virtual assistant, may have been listening a little too closely to its users. Yes, your iPhone might have been a tad nosier than you thought.
What Happened?
The lawsuit, filed back in the day when people still hoped their gadgets weren’t secretly spying on them, alleged that Siri activated unintentionally and recorded private conversations. These snippets of conversations were allegedly analyzed by Apple contractors as part of their quality assurance process. Not exactly the “privacy-first” mantra Apple likes to tout, huh?
According to the court documents, the Siri mishaps weren't just random glitches—they reportedly violated users' privacy rights under state and federal laws. Some users even claimed sensitive information, like financial discussions and personal health details, were inadvertently recorded.
A Settlement That Speaks Volumes
The settlement, approved just this week, avoids a lengthy trial but doesn’t mean Apple admitted guilt. The company, naturally, denies any wrongdoing, though coughing up $95 million might tell a slightly different story.
For context, $95 million is a drop in the ocean for Apple, a company valued at over $2.8 trillion as of late 2024. But for privacy advocates, it’s a significant win, shining a light on tech companies’ handling (or mishandling) of user data.
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The Big Picture
This isn’t the first time a tech company has faced legal heat over privacy issues. Remember when Amazon’s Alexa had its own eavesdropping scandal? Or Google’s assistant? The Siri settlement adds to a growing list of cases challenging how much of our lives these devices are privy to.
Here’s a fun stat to chew on: a Pew Research Center survey found that 81% of Americans feel they have little control over data collected by companies.
What Should Users Do?
Turn off 'Hey Siri' when you're not using it.
Regularly check your Siri and dictation history (Apple Support).
Dive into Apple's privacy settings to manage what your device collects.
Apple’s Response
Apple insists its practices prioritize user privacy and has since implemented stricter policies around data handling. The company also allows users to opt out of Siri audio storage and review processes.
But as tech evolves, the broader question remains: how much privacy are we willing to trade for convenience?
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