Apple device owners have begun receiving payouts as part of a class-action lawsuit settlement concerning the accidental activation of Siri and allegations that users were being monitored. The total settlement amount reached $95 million.
The lawsuit stemmed from a 2019 report by The Guardian newspaper, which alleged that Apple contractors were intermittently listening to user conversations while reviewing Siri’s performance. The central issue was that Siri would occasionally activate spontaneously, without a user prompt, thereby potentially recording private discussions.
While Apple did not admit wrongdoing, it consented to a settlement and the distribution of compensation to resolve the litigation. Furthermore, the company mandated explicit user consent for participation in quality review programs and stopped using external subcontractors for this purpose.
The application period for the compensation scheme opened in mid-2025, and eligible participants are now being paid out. Entitlement was granted to users who purchased an Apple device with Siri capabilities between September 17, 2014, and December 31, 2024, and who experienced unintended activation of the voice assistant.
An individual was permitted to claim up to five devices. Initially, the payouts were anticipated to be as high as $20 per device (capped at $100 per person). However, the actual compensation amount turned out to be lower, calculating to approximately $8.02 per device, with a maximum payout of $40.10.
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