Apple agrees to pay $95 million in Siri wiretapping lawsuit
Apple has reached a $95 million settlement in a lawsuit accusing it of eavesdropping and recording users’ conversations with Siri.
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Do you suddenly see cash deposited into your bank account? If the deposit line says “Lopez vs. Apple”, it’s probably not a scam.
Payments appearing as “Lopez Voice Assistant” are starting to appear in the accounts of targeted customers affected by the 2021 Apple class action lawsuit over alleged privacy violations.
Last year, Apple agreed to pay $95 million to settle a lawsuit accusing the tech giant of using its virtual assistant, Siri, to “eavesdrop” on users without their knowledge.
The payment was scheduled to be made on Friday, January 23, according to the payment website. Social media posts show that consumers are starting to see cash trickle in this day, with deposits flowing into checking accounts and money apps like Venmo and PayPal. Class participants were able to choose their preferred payment method, including direct deposit or physical check.
Payments are capped at $20 per claim, and each person can file up to five claims for five separate affected Apple devices. As is often the case with large class action settlements, payouts are ultimately based on the number of people who file valid claims. The average payment per device was reduced to about $8, with claimants across multiple platforms reporting receiving up to $40 for five devices, according to reports and social media posts.
USA TODAY reached out to Apple and the settlement administrator on January 27 but has not received a response.
What is Lopez v. Apple?
The main complaint in Lopez v. Apple is invasion of privacy. A class action lawsuit filed in California federal court in 2021 alleges that Apple records users’ private conversations without their consent.
The recording allegedly occurred after the user accidentally activated Siri. Siri is a built-in AI voice assistant that you can turn on by pressing a button or saying “Hey, Siri.” Users typically use the “Hey, Siri” feature to set reminders, send or read texts, control smart home devices, and perform other hands-free functions.
According to the complaint, Apple allegedly obtained sensitive or private communications of consumers and sold them to third-party advertisers.
Users claim that ads appeared on their phones after they loudly discussed certain brands, and some claim that their devices were listening to ads even when they didn’t say anything to trigger Siri. The first lawsuit, filed on March 17, 2021, cites a 2019 article in the Guardian that said Apple’s third-party contractors were regularly asked for confidential information. At the time, Apple said only a small portion of the data was shared to help improve Siri and dictation.
What kind of settlement was reached in Lopez v. Apple?
Apple denies the allegations in the complaint, according to a legal notice obtained by USA TODAY. However, the company ultimately agreed to a $95 million class action settlement.
Who is eligible to receive a settlement payment?
Customers who own or purchase a Siri-enabled device and experience unintentional activation of Siri during a confidential or private communication between September 17, 2014 and December 31, 2024 are eligible for the settlement.
The devices targeted in this lawsuit include the iPhone, iPad, Apple Watch, MacBook, iMac, Apple TV streaming box, HomePod speaker, and iPod Touch.
The maximum payment for each device is $20, but claimants may receive less depending on the total number of claims submitted. Each person can claim up to 5 devices and the maximum payment can be $100.
The deadline for filing claims was July 2, 2025. Eligible consumers who take no action to exclude themselves or claim payment will not receive any portion of the settlement.
