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Apple to pay $95 million to settle lawsuit accusing Siri of eavesdropping

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Apple to pay $95 million to settle lawsuit accusing Siri of eavesdropping
News

News

Apple to pay $95 million to settle lawsuit accusing Siri of eavesdropping

2025-01-03 10:37 Last Updated At:10:42

Apple has agreed to pay $95 million to settle a lawsuit accusing the privacy-minded company of deploying its virtual assistant Siri to eavesdrop on people using its iPhone and other trendy devices.

The proposed settlement filed Tuesday in an Oakland, California, federal court would resolve a 5-year-old lawsuit revolving around allegations that Apple surreptitiously activated Siri to record conversations through iPhones and other devices equipped with the virtual assistant for more than a decade.

The alleged recordings occurred even when people didn't seek to activate the virtual assistant with the trigger words, “Hey, Siri." Some of the recorded conversations were then shared with advertisers in an attempt to sell their products to consumers more likely to be interested in the goods and services, the lawsuit asserted.

The allegations about a snoopy Siri contradicted Apple's long-running commitment to protect the privacy of its customers — a crusade that CEO Tim Cook has often framed as a fight to preserve “a fundamental human right.”

Apple isn't acknowledging any wrongdoing in the settlement, which still must be approved by U.S. District Judge Jeffrey White. Lawyers in the case have proposed scheduling a Feb. 14 court hearing in Oakland to review the terms.

If the settlement is approved, tens of millions of consumers who owned iPhones and other Apple devices from Sept. 17, 2014, through the end of last year could file claims. Each consumer could receive up to $20 per Siri-equipped device covered by the settlement, although the payment could be reduced or increased, depending on the volume of claims. Only 3% to 5% of eligible consumers are expected to file claims, according to estimates in court documents.

Eligible consumers will be limited to seeking compensation on a maximum of five devices.

The settlement represents a sliver of the $705 billion in profits that Apple has pocketed since September 2014. It's also a fraction of the roughly $1.5 billion that the lawyers representing consumers had estimated Apple could been required to pay if the company had been found of violating wiretapping and other privacy laws had the case gone to a trial.

The attorneys who filed the lawsuit may seek up to $29.6 million from the settlement fund to cover their fees and other expenses, according to court documents.

FILE - Craig Federighi, Apple's senior vice president of Software Engineering, speaks about Siri during an announcement of new products at the Apple Worldwide Developers Conference in San Jose, Calif., June 4, 2018. (AP Photo/Marcio Jose Sanchez, File)

FILE - Craig Federighi, Apple's senior vice president of Software Engineering, speaks about Siri during an announcement of new products at the Apple Worldwide Developers Conference in San Jose, Calif., June 4, 2018. (AP Photo/Marcio Jose Sanchez, File)

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Dach, Caufield score in shootout to lift the Canadiens 2-1 over the Avalanche

2025-01-05 11:16 Last Updated At:11:21

DENVER (AP) — Kirby Dach and Cole Caufield scored in the shootout, Jakub Dobes had 22 saves in regulation, and the Montreal Canadiens beat the Colorado Avalanche 2-1 on Saturday night.

Caufield had the regulation goal for Montreal, which wrapped up its road trip with a 4-2 mark.

Mackenzie Blackwood made 23 saves but could only stop one of three Canadiens in the shootout. Colorado had its season-high six-game winning streak snapped.

Mikko Rantanen scored his 23rd of the season at 9:01 of the first. Montreal got the equalizer from Caufield with 6:35 remaining on an odd-man rush with Nick Suzuki.

Both teams had breakaway chances in the overtime. Blackwood stopped Kaiden Guhle’s shot in the first minute and Dobes denied Artturi Lehkonen in the final minutes.

Canadiens: Montreal had a happy flight home after their season-long road trip despite playing the second game of a back to back. They are in the midst of playing 11 of 15 games away from home.

Avalanche: Blackwood is expected to carry a heavy load while Scott Wedgewood is out with an injury to his right leg. Trent Miner will play occasionally but Blackwood is expected to get the bulk of starts.

The Canadiens got an odd-man rush midway through the third period and Emil Heineman passed the puck through the slot to Jake Evans skating down the left side. Blackwood slid over in time to stop the wrister and keep Montreal off the board.

Rantanen extended his points streak to 13 games and has 57 points, which has him in the top three in scoring in the NHL.

The Canadiens return to Montreal for a game against Vancouver on Monday night. The Avalanche wrap up a four-game homestand against Florida on Monday night.

AP NHL: https://www.apnews.com/hub/NHL

Montreal Canadiens defenseman Lane Hutson, right, collects the puck as Colorado Avalanche right wing Oskar Olausson pursues in the second period of an NHL hockey game Saturday, Jan. 4, 2025, in Denver. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski)

Montreal Canadiens defenseman Lane Hutson, right, collects the puck as Colorado Avalanche right wing Oskar Olausson pursues in the second period of an NHL hockey game Saturday, Jan. 4, 2025, in Denver. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski)

Montreal Canadiens goaltender Jakub Dobes, back, deflects a shot by Colorado Avalanche center Parker Kelly in the second period of an NHL hockey game Saturday, Jan. 4, 2025, in Denver. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski)

Montreal Canadiens goaltender Jakub Dobes, back, deflects a shot by Colorado Avalanche center Parker Kelly in the second period of an NHL hockey game Saturday, Jan. 4, 2025, in Denver. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski)

Montreal Canadiens right wing Cole Caufield, front, puts a shot on Colorado Avalanche goaltender Mackenzie Blackwood in the second period of an NHL hockey game Saturday, Jan. 4, 2025, in Denver. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski)

Montreal Canadiens right wing Cole Caufield, front, puts a shot on Colorado Avalanche goaltender Mackenzie Blackwood in the second period of an NHL hockey game Saturday, Jan. 4, 2025, in Denver. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski)

Colorado Avalanche defenseman Devon Toews, left, checks Montreal Canadiens center Nick Suzuki in the second period of an NHL hockey game Saturday, Jan. 4, 2025, in Denver. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski)

Colorado Avalanche defenseman Devon Toews, left, checks Montreal Canadiens center Nick Suzuki in the second period of an NHL hockey game Saturday, Jan. 4, 2025, in Denver. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski)

Colorado Avalanche left wing Jonathan Drouin, left, has his shot deflected by Montreal Canadiens defenseman Mike Matheson, center, as goaltender Jakub Dobes protects the net in the second period of an NHL hockey game Saturday, Jan. 4, 2025, in Denver. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski)

Colorado Avalanche left wing Jonathan Drouin, left, has his shot deflected by Montreal Canadiens defenseman Mike Matheson, center, as goaltender Jakub Dobes protects the net in the second period of an NHL hockey game Saturday, Jan. 4, 2025, in Denver. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski)

Colorado Avalanche defenseman Keaton Middleton, left, and Montreal Canadiens center Alex Newhook pursue the puck as it flies past in the second period of an NHL hockey game Saturday, Jan. 4, 2025, in Denver. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski)

Colorado Avalanche defenseman Keaton Middleton, left, and Montreal Canadiens center Alex Newhook pursue the puck as it flies past in the second period of an NHL hockey game Saturday, Jan. 4, 2025, in Denver. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski)

From left, Montreal Canadiens defenseman Alexandre Carrier, center Christian Dvorak and defenseman Mike Matheson confer in the first period of an NHL hockey game against the Colorado Avalanche Saturday, Jan. 4, 2025, in Denver. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski)

From left, Montreal Canadiens defenseman Alexandre Carrier, center Christian Dvorak and defenseman Mike Matheson confer in the first period of an NHL hockey game against the Colorado Avalanche Saturday, Jan. 4, 2025, in Denver. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski)

Colorado Avalanche center Juuso Parssinen, back, looks to pass the puck as Montreal Canadiens right wing Josh Anderson defends in the first period of an NHL hockey game Saturday, Jan. 4, 2025, in Denver. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski)

Colorado Avalanche center Juuso Parssinen, back, looks to pass the puck as Montreal Canadiens right wing Josh Anderson defends in the first period of an NHL hockey game Saturday, Jan. 4, 2025, in Denver. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski)

Montreal Canadiens defenseman Arber Xhekaj, right, checks Colorado Avalanche center Juuso Parssinen as they pursue the puck in the second period of an NHL hockey game Saturday, Jan. 4, 2025, in Denver. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski)

Montreal Canadiens defenseman Arber Xhekaj, right, checks Colorado Avalanche center Juuso Parssinen as they pursue the puck in the second period of an NHL hockey game Saturday, Jan. 4, 2025, in Denver. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski)

Montreal Canadiens goaltender Jakub Dobes, right, makes a glove save of a shot as defenseman Lane Hutson battles for position with Colorado Avalanche center Parker Kelly in the second period of an NHL hockey game Saturday, Jan. 4, 2025, in Denver. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski)

Montreal Canadiens goaltender Jakub Dobes, right, makes a glove save of a shot as defenseman Lane Hutson battles for position with Colorado Avalanche center Parker Kelly in the second period of an NHL hockey game Saturday, Jan. 4, 2025, in Denver. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski)

Colorado Avalanche left wing Jonathan Drouin, front, puts a shot on Montreal Canadiens goaltender Jakub Dobes in the second period of an NHL hockey game Saturday, Jan. 4, 2025, in Denver. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski)

Colorado Avalanche left wing Jonathan Drouin, front, puts a shot on Montreal Canadiens goaltender Jakub Dobes in the second period of an NHL hockey game Saturday, Jan. 4, 2025, in Denver. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski)

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