[Governance -& Risk Management](https://www.govinfosecurity.com/governance-risk-management-c-93) , [Privacy](https://www.govinfosecurity.com/privacy-c-151)Apple Settles ‘Hey Siri’ Lawsuit for $95 Million================================================Plaintiffs Sued After Report that Apple Eavesdropped on Intimate Moments [Akshaya Asokan](https://www.govinfosecurity.com/authors/akshaya-asokan-i-2924) ([asokan_akshaya](https://www.twitter.com/asokan_akshaya)) • January 4, 2025 [](https://www.bankinfosecurity.com/apple-settles-hey-siri-lawsuit-for-95-million-a-27217#disqus_thread) * * * * * [Credit Eligible](/premium/pricing ‘As a BankInfoSecurity.com annual member, this content can be used toward your membership credits and transcript tracking.’)* [](/premium/pricing ‘As a BankInfoSecurity.com annual member, this content can be used toward your membership credits and transcript tracking.’)* Get Permission*  Image: ShutterstockApple agreed to pay $95 million to settle a lawsuit accusing the smart device giant of illegally recording audio through its Siri virtual assistant and sharing extracts with human reviewers.**See Also:** [Using the Netskope HIPAA Mapping Guide](https://www.govinfosecurity.com/whitepapers/using-netskope-hipaa-mapping-guide-w-14576?rf=RAM_SeeAlso)Plaintiffs in 2019 alleged Apple devices automatically activated Siri while users were having private conversations at home, resulting in targeted advertisements based on these communications.Sparking the lawsuit was a 2019 [report](https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2019/jul/26/apple-contractors-regularly-hear-confidential-details-on-siri-recordings) from The Guardian citing an anonymous Apple whistleblower who disclosed the company allowed contractors to hear recordings taken by Siri, including intimate moments such as couples having sex, discussing medical information or making drug deals. Apple told the newspaper it transmitted a small percentage of Siri recordings for analysis with the goal of improving Siri, which has gained infamy for its garbled responses to user requests. Apple also said the audio snippets were not associated with any user’s Apple ID.Apple maintained that Siri should only have activated after hearing the ‘wake word’ phrase ‘Hey Siri’ virtual assistant introduced in 2011. But, ‘far from requiring a ‘clear, unambiguous trigger’ as Apple claimed , Siri can be activated by nearly anything, including ‘the sound of a zip’ or an individual raising their arms and speaking,’ plaintiffs alleged.Under the [proposed settlement](https://dd80b675424c132b90b3-e48385e382d2e5d17821a5e1d8e4c86b.ssl.cf1.rackcdn.com/external/govuscourtscand3459343360.pdf), Apple would not acknowledge wrongdoing. District Judge Jeffrey White in the U.S. District for the District of Northern California must sign off on the proposal. Attorneys from both side of the lawsuit will urge him to do so during a scheduled Feb. 14 court hearing.Class members who purchased Siri-enabled devices between Sept. 17, 2014 and Dec. 31, 2024, could receive $20 per device. Apple would also be required to delete audio it collected using Siri before October 2019.Plaintiffs accused the company of violating the federal Wiretap Act, California Consumer Privacy Act, breach of contract, as well as unfair competition. White dismissed claims of unfair competition in 2021.  #### [Akshaya Asokan](https://www.govinfosecurity.com/authors/akshaya-asokan-i-2924)*Senior Correspondent, ISMG* Asokan is a U.K.-based senior correspondent for Information Security Media Group’s global news desk. She previously worked with IDG and other publications, reporting on developments in technology, minority rights and education.[](https://twitter.com/asokan_akshaya) [](mailto:aasokan@ismg.io)  [whitepaper](https://www.govinfosecurity.com/whitepapers/netskope-ferpa-mapping-guide-w-14575?rf=RAM_Resources)##### [Netskope FERPA Mapping Guide](https://www.govinfosecurity.com/whitepapers/netskope-ferpa-mapping-guide-w-14575?rf=RAM_Resources) [whitepaper](https://www.govinfosecurity.com/whitepapers/data-privacy-compliance-third-party-management-unified-approach-w-14535?rf=RAM_Resources)##### [Data Privacy Compliance and Third-Party Management: A Unified Approach](https://www.govinfosecurity.com/whitepapers/data-privacy-compliance-third-party-management-unified-approach-w-14535?rf=RAM_Resources) [whitepaper](https://www.govinfosecurity.com/whitepapers/mastering-pias-dpias-complete-handbook-for-privacy-experts-w-14386?rf=RAM_Resources)##### [Mastering PIAs -& DPIAs: A Complete Handbook for Privacy Experts](https://www.govinfosecurity.com/whitepapers/mastering-pias-dpias-complete-handbook-for-privacy-experts-w-14386?rf=RAM_Resources) ##### [OnDemand -| All the Ways the Internet is Surveilling You](https://www.govinfosecurity.com/webinars/ondemand-all-ways-internet-surveilling-you-w-5827?rf=RAM_Resources) [whitepaper](https://www.govinfosecurity.com/whitepapers/preparing-to-self-certify-eu-us-dpf-w-14164?rf=RAM_Resources)##### [Preparing to Self-Certify with the EU-US DPF](https://www.govinfosecurity.com/whitepapers/preparing-to-self-certify-eu-us-dpf-w-14164?rf=RAM_Resources) [Governance -& Risk Management](https://www.govinfosecurity.com/governance-risk-management-c-93)##### [Longtime Tenable CEO, NetWitness Head Amit Yoran Dies at 54](https://www.govinfosecurity.com/longtime-tenable-ceo-netwitness-head-amit-yoran-dies-at-54-a-27218) [Governance -& Risk Management](https://www.govinfosecurity.com/governance-risk-management-c-93)##### [Apple Settles ‘Hey Siri’ Lawsuit for $95 Million](https://www.govinfosecurity.com/apple-settles-hey-siri-lawsuit-for-95-million-a-27217) [DDoS Protection](https://www.govinfosecurity.com/ddos-protection-c-359)##### [Japanese Businesses Hit By a Surge In DDoS Attacks](https://www.govinfosecurity.com/japanese-businesses-hit-by-surge-in-ddos-attacks-a-27216) [Governance -& Risk Management](https://www.govinfosecurity.com/governance-risk-management-c-93)##### [Microsoft, Ping, Okta Dominate Access Management Gartner MQ](https://www.govinfosecurity.com/microsoft-ping-okta-dominate-access-management-gartner-mq-a-27214) [Standards, Regulations -& Compliance](https://www.govinfosecurity.com/standards-regulations-compliance-c-435)##### [US CISA Issues Final Cyber Rules for Restricted Bulk Data](https://www.govinfosecurity.com/us-cisa-issues-final-cyber-rules-for-restricted-bulk-data-a-27215)[Overview](https://www.govinfosecurity.com/webinars/risk-management-framework-learn-from-nist-w-255) * Twitter* Facebook* LinkedIn* * * From heightened risks to increased regulations, senior leaders at all levels are pressured to improve their organizations’ risk management capabilities. But no one is showing them how – until now.Learn the fundamentals of developing a risk management program from the man who wrote the book on the topic: Ron Ross, computer scientist for the National Institute of Standards and Technology. In an exclusive presentation, Ross, lead author of NIST Special Publication 800-37 – the bible of risk assessment and management – will share his unique insights on how to:* Understand the current cyber threats to all public and private sector organizations;* Develop a multi-tiered risk management approach built upon governance, processes and information systems;* Implement NIST’s risk management framework, from defining risks to selecting, implementing and monitoring information security controls.Presented By———— [Presented By](/authors/ron-ross-i-558)—————————————#### [Ron Ross](/authors/ron-ross-i-558)*Sr. Computer Scientist -& Information Security Researcher, National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST)*
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