Apple caught secretly recording Siri conversations- How to turn off Siri?
Apple has agreed to pay $95 million to settle a lawsuit accusing the company of turning virtual assistant Siri into a snoop, eavesdropping on users of iPhones and other trendy devices to betray its long-standing commitment to privacy. individual.
Proposed solution filed in federal court earlier this week still needs to be approved by a judge, but here are some things to know about the case and the privacy issues it raises.
HOW TO TURN OFF SIRI?
You can turn off Apple’s virtual assistant by following these simple steps:
1. Navigate to Siri & Search Settings.
2. Turn off Listen for ‘Hey Siri’ and press the Side button for Siri.
3. Tap Turn off Siri when the pop-up appears.
You can also disable individual apps’ access to your iPhone’s microphone by doing the following: Navigate to Settings (select the app) then turn off Microphone.
WHAT IS THE LAWSUIT ABOUT?
Wood Law Firm, which specializes in class action lawsuits, filed a complaint against Apple in August 2019, shortly after The Guardian newspaper published an article alleging that Siri’s microphone was surreptitiously turned on to record calls. the conversation takes place without the user’s knowledge.
Apple released a software update in September 2014 that was supposed to only activate the virtual assistant with the trigger word “Hey, Siri,” but The Guardian story alleges Siri listened in and recorded the conversation chat at other times to help improve the company’s technology.
The story led to the lawsuit, which later alleged that Apple shared some of the conversations Siri had secretly recorded with advertisers looking to connect with consumers who were more likely to buy more of their products and services.
HOW MANY PEOPLE ARE COVERED BY THE SETTLEMENT AGREEMENT?
Tens of millions of American consumers who owned or purchased iPhones and other Siri-equipped devices between September 17, 2014 and the end of last year will be eligible to file claims.
HOW MUCH MONEY WILL EACH QUALIFIED CONSUMER RECEIVE?
It’s too early to say for sure, but the settlement is currently expected to pay up to $20 per Siri-enabled device, with each consumer limited to a maximum. The final amount can be affected by two factors: the number of claims and the amount of the settlement fund reduced to cover costs and legal fees.
Claims administrators estimate only 3% to 5% of eligible consumers will file a claim. Attorneys in the case are currently seeking nearly $30 million in fees and costs, but that figure could still be lowered by U.S. District Judge Jeffrey White, who is overseeing the case in Oakland, California. A proposed hearing on February 14 has been proposed to consider the terms of the settlement.
WHAT LAWS DO APPLE VIOLATE?
If the allegations are true, Apple may have violated federal wiretapping laws and other statutes designed to protect user privacy. But Apple firmly denies any wrongdoing and insists that it will be cleared of any wrongdoing if the case goes to trial. Lawyers representing consumers assert that Apple’s misconduct is so serious that the company could be liable for $1.5 billion in damages if it loses the case.
Although Apple has not explained its rationale for the settlement, large companies often argue that settling class action lawsuits makes more sense than continuing to ratchet up legal costs and risk public opinion. bad. The lawsuit also targets one of Apple’s core values, which considers privacy a “fundamental human right.”
Although $95 million may sound like a large amount of money, it’s a very small number for Apple. Since September 2014, the company’s total profits have exceeded $700 billion — a string of prosperity that has helped push the company’s market value to about $3.7 trillion.
DO I NEED TO WORRY ABOUT THE MICROPHONE ON OTHER DEVICES TRACKING ME?
Maybe. A lawsuit similar to the one against Siri is still pending in San Jose, California federal court Google and virtual assistants in Android software, which have been widely used on smartphones for years.
