Written by Jacob Michaels.

In a turn that feels straight out of a dystopian sci-fi flick, Apple is shelling out $95 million to settle a lawsuit accusing Siri of spying on its users. Yes, the same Siri that sets your morning alarms and answers life’s burning questions might’ve been eavesdropping on your private conversations.

The settlement, filed in a federal court in Oakland, California, aims to resolve allegations that Siri secretly recorded users—even when they didn’t say the magic words, “Hey, Siri.” For over a decade, according to the lawsuit, Apple devices equipped with the virtual assistant had a bad habit of listening in without permission.

If that wasn’t enough, snippets of these conversations allegedly ended up being shared with advertisers. Why? To better pitch their products to consumers who didn’t realize their casual chatter was being turned into marketing fodder. That’s quite the twist for a company whose CEO, Tim Cook, has repeatedly championed privacy as a “fundamental human right.”

The Settlement Breakdown

Apple isn’t admitting guilt here. Instead, the tech giant has decided to settle, dodging what could’ve been a drawn-out legal battle. The settlement, which still needs a green light from U.S. District Judge Jeffrey White, could put some cash back into the pockets of consumers affected by Siri’s sneaky side hustle.

Here’s the deal: if the settlement gets approved, tens of millions of people who owned Siri-equipped devices between September 17, 2014, and the end of last year can file claims. For every eligible device, consumers might get up to $20. Not exactly a life-changing windfall, but hey, it’s something.

However, there’s a cap. You can only claim compensation for up to five devices, and the payout could vary depending on how many people come forward. Realistically, only about 3-5% of eligible users are expected to bother filing claims. For most folks, the hassle might not feel worth the 20 bucks.

While $95 million might sound like a lot, it’s peanuts for Apple. Since 2014, the company has raked in $705 billion in profits. This payout is barely a blip on their radar—a tiny fraction of the $1.5 billion Apple might’ve owed if the case had gone to trial and the company had been found guilty of breaking privacy laws.

Lawyers Clean Up While Consumers Get Crumbs

While consumers can expect a modest payout, the lawyers involved are cashing in big time. They’re asking for a hefty $29.6 million slice of the settlement pie to cover their fees and expenses. That’s nearly a third of the entire fund—money that could’ve gone to affected users. If you’re wondering who the real winners are, it’s hard not to point fingers at the legal team.

This whole ordeal raises some uncomfortable questions. If a company as powerful and privacy-obsessed as Apple can allegedly cross these boundaries, what does that mean for everyone else? And is a $20 payout per device really justice, or just a distraction from the bigger issue?

Our Take

This settlement highlights a troubling trend: tech companies preaching privacy but bending the rules behind the scenes. Sure, Apple’s $95 million payout is a slap on the wrist, but it doesn’t erase the fact that millions of users had their trust violated. Worse, this sends a message to other companies that minor settlements might be an acceptable cost of doing business.

The real losers here? Everyday consumers. Most won’t even claim their $20, and even those who do aren’t compensated nearly enough for a decade of potential privacy breaches. Meanwhile, lawyers walk away with millions, and Apple continues to rake in billions like nothing happened. The public deserves better safeguards—and consequences that actually make Big Tech think twice about overstepping.