Latest news with #LopezvApple
Yahoo
21-05-2025
- Yahoo
Are you eligible for a payment in Apple's Siri spying lawsuit?
You may be eligible to receive a payment through a recent $95 million class action lawsuit if you've owned at least one Apple device since 2014. The lawsuit, Lopez v. Apple Inc., was filed in a California federal court in 2021 by users who allege their private conversations were being recorded by their Apple devices after unintentionally activating Siri, USA TODAY reported. Although a settlement has been reached, Apple has denied the allegations made in the complaint, according to the settlement website. "If you owned or purchased a Siri-enabled device and experienced an unintended Siri activation during a confidential or private communication between September 17, 2014, and December 31, 2024, you should read this Notice as it may impact your legal rights," the website states. Here's what New Yorkers should know about the settlement. The lawsuit alleges that people's "confidential or private communications were allegedly obtained by Apple and/or shared with third parties as a result of an unintended Siri activation." Siri, a voice assistant activated by saying "Hey, Siri," can set reminders, control smart home devices and make recommendations. However, users in the class action lawsuit claim their Apple devices were recording them without their consent and subsequently sending their information to advertisers who used it to target them with online ads. Users claimed they saw ads on their phones for specific brands after discussing them aloud, and others said their devices listened to them without them having said anything at all. The initial lawsuit, filed on March 17, 2021, cites a 2019 article from The Guardian that found Apple's third-party contractors regularly heard confidential information. At the time, Apple said only a small portion of data was shared to help improve Siri and dictation. If you purchased or owned a Siri device in the U.S. or its territories between Sept. 17, 2014, and Dec. 31, 2024, enabled Siri on the device and experienced an unintended Siri activation during a confidential or private conversation, you could be eligible for compensation, according to the settlement website. The following Siri-enabled devices qualify for the settlement: iPhones iPads Apple Watches MacBooks iMacs HomePod speakers iPod Touches Apple TV streaming boxes You can submit claims for up to five Siri devices. How much will you get?: NY to send inflation refund checks Some individuals have received an email or postcard notifying them of the settlement with a claim identification code and confirmation code. If you've received that notice, you can use those codes when making your claim at However, you can still file a claim online if you haven't received those codes. You can also choose to opt out or object to the settlement. If you want to file a claim, you'll have to do so by July 2, 2025. It depends. If you submit a valid claim, you could receive up to $20 per Siri device, the settlement website says. However, the amount is subject to change depending on the total number of valid claims submitted and devices claimed. What to know: New laws in NY to make it easier to cancel subscriptions, boost privacy protections It's a bit unclear right now. There's a final approval hearing currently scheduled for Aug. 1 to decide whether the settlement will be approved. From there, the decision may be appealed, but if not, payments will be processed as soon as possible, according to the settlement website. For payment timeline updates, you can visit the website at Contributing: USA TODAY Network Emily Barnes on consumer-related issues for the USA TODAY Network's New York Connect Team, focusing on scam and recall-related topics. Follow her on X and Instagram @byemilybarnes. Get in touch at ebarnes@ This article originally appeared on Rockland/Westchester Journal News: Are you eligible for a payment in Apple's Siri spying lawsuit?
Forbes
06-05-2025
- Business
- Forbes
Apple Siri Eavesdropping Payout Approved—Here's How To Make A Claim
Apple users can now apply to claim their share of a $95 million cash payout to settle a class action ... More case alleging Siri eavesdropping. SOPA Images/LightRocket via Getty Images Apple users can now apply to claim their share of a $95 million cash payout to settle a class action case alleging Siri eavesdropping . In Jan., I reported how the iPhone maker agreed to pay $95 million in preliminary settlement, filed Dec. 13, 2024, in Oakland, California. The class action lawsuit alleges that Apple was infringing its users' privacy by capturing Siri conversations without their knowledge or consent and sharing this with advertisers. The claims date back to 2019, when U.K. newspaper The Guardian reported that Siri contractors were listening to Apple users' conversations with the voice assistant. According to the article, the contractors heard people talking to their doctor, sexual encounters and even drug deals. The Siri settlement has now been approved, with a page published on May 9 in the case of Lopez v. Apple Inc . 'A settlement has been reached with Apple Inc. in a class action lawsuit brought on behalf of current or former owners or purchasers of a Siri-enabled iPhone, iPad, Apple Watch, MacBook, iMac, HomePod, iPod touch, or Apple TV whose confidential or private communications were allegedly obtained by Apple and/or shared with third parties as a result of an unintended Siri activation,' the page reads. 'Apple denies all of the allegations made in the lawsuit and denies that [it] did anything improper or unlawful,' the page adds. Apple has said previously that it is settling the Siri case to avoid costly litigation. So, how do you claim your share of the Apple Siri eavesdropping payout? Who Is Eligible For The Siri Eavesdropping Payout? Anyone who lives in the U.S., owned a Siri-enabled device and experienced an unintended activation of the voice assistant during a confidential or private communication between Sept. 17, 2014 and Dec. 31, 2024, can make a claim. If you owned an Apple device such as an iPhone, iPad, Apple Watch or MacBook and Siri activated unintentionally during that period, you should have received an email or postcard including a Claim identification Code and Confirmation Code. If you didn't receive one of these and you think you are eligible for the Siri payout, you can still apply. However, be clear that you will need to share under oath that you experienced Siri activating by accident and that your private conversations were recorded by the voice assistant. How Much Can I Claim For Siri Eavesdropping? If you fit the criteria to claim for the Siri eavesdropping payout, you can claim $20 for each of the devices you use, up to five Apple devices. That means you can claim up to $100 from Apple. The amount available will increase or decrease pro rata depending on the total number of valid claims submitted, and Siri devices claimed. How Can I Make A Claim For The Siri Payout? If you received the email or postcard, use the codes when making a claim via a valid Claim Form. If you didn't receive anything, but you think you are eligible to claim, go to the Submit a Claim page and follow the instructions on how to submit a Claim Form. What Is The Deadline For Claims? The deadline to file your claim in the Siri eavesdropping case is Jul. 2, with the final approval hearing to take place on Aug. 1, 2025. I asked Apple for a comment on the Siri eavesdropping case and the payout and will update this article if the iPhone maker responds.
