Apple Lawsuit Settlement 2026, $95M Siri Privacy Payouts Already Sent—What You Missed And What’s Next
Apple’s $95 million Siri settlement started paying out January 23, 2026, but the claim deadline closed July 2, 2025. If you didn’t file a claim, you cannot receive compensation—but understanding what happened matters for protecting your privacy moving forward.
The settlement resolved allegations that Apple’s voice assistant secretly recorded private conversations without consent and shared them with third-party contractors, violating California privacy laws.
What Was The Apple Siri Lawsuit About?
In 2019, California resident Fumiko Lopez sued Apple after discovering her Siri-enabled devices were activating without the “Hey Siri” trigger phrase. According to court filings in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California, Siri allegedly recorded confidential conversations and transmitted them to Apple contractors for quality review.
The lawsuit claimed Siri captured private discussions about medical conditions, financial planning, and other sensitive topics. Some users reported seeing targeted ads for products they only discussed verbally near their Apple devices—suggesting those conversations reached advertisers despite never being typed into search engines.
Apple contractors reportedly heard recordings of drug deals, medical consultations, and intimate moments. A 2019 whistleblower revealed that contractors regularly overheard private conversations, raising serious questions about how Apple handled voice data.
Who Was Eligible For The Settlement?
Anyone who owned or purchased Siri-enabled Apple devices—including iPhone, iPad, Apple Watch, MacBook, iMac, HomePod, iPod touch, or Apple TV—between September 17, 2014, and December 31, 2024, qualified if they experienced unintended Siri activations during private conversations.
The critical requirement: claimants had to confirm under penalty of perjury that Siri activated without the “Hey Siri” command during confidential discussions. Claims were capped at five devices per person, with up to $20 per device available.
Similar to the Facebook Lawsuit Payout Latest Today Update, Active Settlements, Eligibility & Payout Amounts case, actual payouts depended on total validated claims submitted.
What Were The Actual Payout Amounts?
According to reports from recipients in late January 2026, average payouts settled around $8 per device. Users who claimed five devices received approximately $40.10 total. These amounts fell well below the $20 per device cap due to high claim volume.
Payments arrived via direct deposit labeled “Lopez Voice Assistant” or “Lopez Voice Asst—Payouts,” causing initial confusion among recipients who feared scams. The settlement administrator confirmed distribution concluded January 26, 2026.
The Timeline: From Lawsuit To Payouts
2019: Fumiko Lopez filed the class action after The Guardian exposed Apple contractors hearing private Siri recordings.
November 2024: U.S. District Judge Jeffrey S. White granted preliminary approval of the $95 million settlement.
November 17, 2025: Final approval granted after Apple denied all allegations but agreed to settle.
May 2025 – July 2, 2025: Claims window opened and closed.
January 23-26, 2026: Settlement administrator distributed all payments.
What Apple Says About Privacy Now
Apple implemented significant Siri privacy changes following the lawsuit exposure. Users can now opt out of having Siri recordings reviewed by humans. Apple also reduced the length of audio samples contractors can access and requires explicit user consent before storing voice recordings for quality improvement.
However, these protections didn’t exist during most of the ten-year class period, which is why the settlement covered alleged violations from 2014 through 2024.
Other Apple Privacy Cases You Should Know
Apple faces additional privacy litigation beyond Siri. The $500 million “batterygate” settlement paid iPhone users for alleged performance throttling. That case involved different claims but shows Apple’s ongoing privacy challenges.
Understanding these cases matters because tech companies continue facing scrutiny over data collection practices—similar to the Temu Settlement Claim Form, File Your Privacy Violation Claim For Up To $5,000 Before It’s Too Late allegations and the Gmail Lawsuit Claim, $425M Privacy Settlement On Appeal, What You Need To Know case.
Where To Get Official Information
The official settlement website remains available at www.lopezvoiceassistantsettlement.com for reference purposes, although the claim period has closed. If you filed a claim and haven’t received payment, contact the settlement administrator:
- Email: [email protected]
- Phone: 1-888-981-4106
- Mail: Lopez Voice Assistant Settlement Administrator, P.O. Box 6609, 614 Cranbury Rd, East Brunswick, NJ 08816
Digital checks must be accepted within 120 days or funds will be forfeited.
Protect Your Privacy Moving Forward
Even though the claim deadline passed, Apple users should review Siri settings immediately. Navigate to Settings > Siri & Search and disable “Listen for ‘Hey Siri'” if you want complete control over voice activation.
Under Privacy & Security, review which apps have microphone access. Many apps request microphone permissions unnecessarily, creating additional privacy risks beyond Siri.
The Bottom Line
If you filed a claim before July 2, 2025, and haven’t received payment, contact the settlement administrator immediately using the information above. If you missed the deadline, no appeals or extensions exist—the settlement is closed.
The lesson: monitor class action lawsuit websites regularly and act quickly when deadlines arise. Missing a claim deadline means leaving compensation on the table, even when you clearly qualified.
Last Updated: February 6, 2026
Disclaimer: This article provides general legal information and is not legal advice. Settlement terms are subject to court approval and may change.
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About the Author
Sarah Klein, JD, is a licensed attorney and legal content strategist with over 12 years of experience across civil, criminal, family, and regulatory law. At All About Lawyer, she covers a wide range of legal topics — from high-profile lawsuits and courtroom stories to state traffic laws and everyday legal questions — all with a focus on accuracy, clarity, and public understanding.
Her writing blends real legal insight with plain-English explanations, helping readers stay informed and legally aware.
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