Apple Inc. has agreed to pay $95 million in cash to resolve a proposed class-action lawsuit alleging that its Siri voice assistant violated users' privacy. The preliminary settlement was filed in Oakland, California's federal court and awaits approval from U.S. District Judge Jeffrey White.

The lawsuit claims that Siri inadvertently recorded private conversations when unintentionally activated and shared these recordings with third parties, including advertisers. Plaintiffs reported receiving targeted ads after discussing topics such as Air Jordan sneakers, Olive Garden restaurants, and even medical treatments, raising concerns over unauthorized recordings. Siri typically activates using "hot words" like "Hey, Siri," which allegedly led to these privacy breaches.

The lawsuit covers a class period spanning September 17, 2014, to December 31, 2024, starting when Siri introduced the "Hey, Siri" feature. Class members, estimated in the tens of millions, could receive up to $20 per Siri-enabled device, such as iPhones and Apple Watches.

Although Apple denies any wrongdoing, the company agreed to settle the case. The plaintiffs’ legal team may seek $28.5 million in fees and $1.1 million for expenses from the settlement fund. The $95 million payout represents less than nine hours of profit for Apple, which reported a net income of $93.74 billion in its latest fiscal year.

A related lawsuit against Google for alleged privacy violations by its Voice Assistant is ongoing in San Jose, California, with the same legal firms representing the plaintiffs. The Apple case is titled Lopez et al. v. Apple Inc., filed in the U.S. District Court, Northern District of California.