So, like, you know that super awkward moment when you’re talking to your BFF about something totally private, and Siri’s like, “I’m sorry, I didn’t quite get that”? Well, turns out, she might have been actually eavesdropping! And now Apple’s coughing up $95 million to settle a lawsuit about it.
Okay, so rewind to 2019. People started freaking out when they realized Siri was all “oops” and recording private convos by accident, even when she wasn’t invited to the chat. IKR? So awk. Apparently, Apple had real humans, like, listening to those recordings for “quality control” or whatever. That’s when this whole lawsuit drama started because, um, HELLO, privacy much?!
The lawsuit claimed this was, like, totally not cool since Apple’s all, “We’re so private and secure!” but, like, were they?
Here’s the deal: Apple’s dropping $95 million to make it go away. If you’re a Siri user in the U.S. and owned one of those devices between September 17, 2014, and December 31, 2024, you could snag up to $20 per device (max of five devices, so $100 tops). Is it life-changing money? No. But hey, free coffee money, right?
This still needs to get court-approved, but once it does, they’ll tell you how to claim your share. Keep an eye out for deets from Apple—don’t let that spam folder swallow your payday!
Obvi, Apple’s like, “We didn’t do anything wrong,” but they’re also paying up, so… you decide. They’re all, “We’re super into user privacy!” and said they’ve, like, totally fixed how Siri works now. Okay, Apple, we see you. 👀
Let’s hear it from the smart people:
A tech professor, said, “This settlement underscores the importance of transparency in how companies handle user data. Users must be informed and give explicit consent when their interactions are recorded and analyzed.”
A cybersecurity expert, added, “While the financial compensation is a step towards accountability, the broader issue is ensuring that such privacy breaches do not occur in the first place. Companies need to implement robust measures to prevent unintended data collection.”
Translation: Pay up, Apple, but also, DO BETTER.
This whole mess is basically a big wake-up call for us to, like, double-check our device settings. Make sure you’re not accidentally letting your gadgets spill your secrets. And tech companies? They need to work way harder to keep their hands out of our private biz.
So yeah, Apple might be $95 million poorer, but this isn’t just about the money. It’s about trust, babes. In a world where everything has a mic, this drama shows how important it is to know who’s really listening. Let’s hope this settlement makes all the tech giants think twice before snooping on us again.
And don’t forget—if you’re eligible, snag that cash!
XOXO,
Valley Girl News
Image generated by AI.
