Apple has reached a proposed settlement of $95 million in a class-action lawsuit accusing its virtual assistant Siri of eavesdropping on users' private conversations. This settlement addresses allegations that Siri recorded communications without consent, which contradicts Apple's strong public stance on user privacy.

The suit, which has been ongoing for more than five years, was filed in federal court in Oakland, California. According to claims made in the lawsuit, Siri was activated unintentionally, capturing private discussions even when users had not invoked the voice command phrase "Hey, Siri." Some of these recordings were allegedly shared with advertisers, raising significant concerns about privacy violations.

Despite settling, Apple has denied any wrongdoing, asserting that they have always prioritized privacy. In the upcoming court session scheduled for February 14, the U.S. District Judge Jeffrey White will review the proposed terms before final approval.

If the settlement receives judicial approval, tens of millions of U.S. consumers who owned Apple devices equipped with Siri from September 17, 2014, until the end of 2024 will be eligible to claim compensation. Each claimant may receive up to $20 per Siri-enabled device, although the amount will depend on the number of claims made. Reports suggest that only about 3% to 5% of eligible users are expected to file claims based on current estimates.

Notably, the settlement amount is modest compared to Apple's overall financial success, which has seen over $705 billion in profits since the allegations began. Some legal experts believe that had the case gone to trial, Apple could have faced damages up to $1.5 billion for potential violations of wiretapping laws.

The issue at hand not only raises questions about Apple's practices but also highlights ongoing concerns regarding the privacy of voice-activated devices. A similar case is currently pending against Google regarding its voice assistant.

For more details, refer to the full article on South China Morning Post, CBS News, and AP News.