Apple Siri BIPA Class Action Lawsuit Certified 2026—3 Million Illinois Users Can Now Sue For $1,000-$5,000 Per Violation, Here’s What You Need To Know
Case Number: Zaluda v. Apple Inc., Case No. 2019-CH-11771
Recent Update: January 29, 2026 – Cook County Circuit Court certifies class action covering 3 million Illinois Siri users; case moves toward trial
A Cook County judge certified a massive class action against Apple on January 29, 2026, clearing the way for approximately 3 million Illinois residents to sue the tech giant for allegedly collecting voiceprints through Siri without proper consent. Judge Michael Mullen of Cook County Circuit Court granted class certification, finding that resolving the Biometric Information Privacy Act (BIPA) claims on a classwide basis is the most efficient and fair way to proceed.
This landmark ruling puts billions of dollars at stake. Every eligible Illinois resident who used Siri since September 14, 2014 can now seek $1,000 to $5,000 per violation under Illinois’ strict biometric privacy law.
What Is The Apple Siri BIPA Lawsuit About?
The plaintiffs allege Apple failed to request informed consent to collect, use, store and disseminate the voiceprints generated when users enable Siri on their Apple devices. The lawsuit claims Apple violates BIPA every time an Illinois resident uses Siri’s voice assistant on iPhones, iPads, Apple Watches, HomePods, Macs, and other devices.
The complaint alleges Apple creates voiceprints in two ways: first, it creates a voiceprint stored to unlock a user’s device when the user says “Hey Siri,” and second, it creates voiceprints when analyzing user requests, which requires processing and decoding speech in a manner that creates biometric identifiers.
When you activate Siri for the first time, Apple asks you to repeat five phrases. According to the Apple Siri class action lawsuit, users are prompted to repeat five phrases that are recorded and analyzed as part of the Siri enrollment process, and the first 40 Siri requests are recorded and analyzed to create a user profile associated with the speaker.
That user profile is your voiceprint. The lawsuit says Apple created these digital fingerprints of your voice without ever telling you it was collecting biometric information or getting your written consent as Illinois law requires.
Why BIPA Matters And What It Protects
Illinois’ Biometric Information Privacy Act is the nation’s strictest biometric privacy law. Unlike passwords or Social Security numbers, your voiceprint cannot be changed if stolen or compromised. It’s permanently linked to you.
BIPA requires companies to obtain written consent before collecting biometric data like voiceprints, fingerprints, or facial scans. Companies must also publicly disclose how long they’ll keep this data and when they’ll destroy it.
BIPA allows statutory damages of $1,000-$5,000 per violation plus attorney fees. With 3 million class members potentially affected over a 12-year period, damages could run from the billions up to the hundreds of billions of dollars in potential damages, were the case to proceed to trial and result in a verdict in favor of plaintiffs.
Similar BIPA lawsuits have resulted in massive payouts. The Bumble Faces Class Action Lawsuit Over Alleged Deceptive Practices And Auto-Renewal Billing resulted in payments exceeding $1,400 per person. The Instagram Class Action Lawsuit, Mental Health Crisis Allegations, Biometric Privacy Violations produced a $68.5 million settlement paying users $32.56 each.
Who Is Eligible For This Class Action?
The certified class includes all Illinois residents who used the Siri function on any Apple device and had their voiceprints or biometric feature vectors capable of identifying them computed from their voice signals collected, captured, possessed and disseminated by Apple, Inc. from September 2014 to the present.
You’re eligible if you lived in Illinois and used Siri on any Apple device between September 14, 2014 and now. It doesn’t matter if you were the original owner or if you still own the device.
The lawsuit was filed by named plaintiffs Deborah Zaluda, Catherine Cooke, David Cooke, James Cooke, Lori Cooke, Savanna Cooke, and Paul Darby.
What Happens Next In This Lawsuit?
Class certification is a critical milestone but it’s not a settlement. The case will now move toward trial unless Apple agrees to settle. As discovery is nearly complete, the court’s decision paves the way for trial on the merits of whether Apple violated BIPA by collecting voiceprints without proper consent.
Similar voice assistant privacy cases have settled before trial. Google recently agreed to pay $68 million to settle claims that it improperly recorded people’s voices as they interacted with their Google Assistant installed on Google Home smart speakers and other devices. The Amazon Alexa Class Action Lawsuit, Millions Can Now Sue After July 2025 Court Ruling is currently in litigation following class certification.
No claim filing deadline exists yet because this case hasn’t settled. If you’re an eligible class member, you’ll automatically receive notice by mail or email if a settlement is reached or before trial begins.
How Apple Defended Against Class Certification
Apple tried to defeat class certification by arguing that people use Siri in too many different ways to treat all users the same. Apple attempted to defeat class certification by asserting the ways people interacted with Siri were too different to allow their cases to proceed as if they were the same.
Judge Mullen rejected this argument. The judge said class certification will allow the court to address several common questions, including whether the voice feature vectors Apple uses to identify Siri users qualify as voiceprints subject to BIPA’s informed-consent requirements.
What You Should Know About Voiceprint Collection
Most iPhone users don’t realize their voices are being analyzed and stored as biometric identifiers. When you say “Hey Siri,” Apple isn’t just listening for the words—it’s analyzing the unique characteristics of your voice that make you identifiable.
The complaint alleges Apple violated multiple provisions of BIPA by failing to obtain informed written consent before collecting and storing users’ voiceprint biometrics and failing to provide required disclosures about the specific purposes and length of time for which voiceprints are being collected, stored, and used.
What Class Members Should Do Now
You don’t need to file anything yet. If you’re an eligible class member, you’ll receive official notice once a settlement is reached or as the trial date approaches.
Meanwhile, document your Siri usage. Check your Apple purchase history and confirm your Illinois residency during the September 2014 to present timeframe. Save emails, receipts, and any records showing when you lived in Illinois and owned Apple devices with Siri functionality.
Monitor the official court docket for updates: Zaluda v. Apple Inc., Case No. 2019-CH-11771, Circuit Court of Cook County, Illinois.
FAQs About The Apple Siri BIPA Class Action
What Is BIPA And Why Does It Matter?
BIPA is Illinois’ Biometric Information Privacy Act, protecting residents from unauthorized collection of biometric identifiers like voiceprints, fingerprints, and facial scans. Unlike passwords, biometric data can’t be changed if compromised, making unauthorized collection especially harmful.
When Was This Class Certified?
Judge Michael Mullen certified the class on January 29, 2026. Class certification means the case can proceed on behalf of all 3 million eligible Illinois Siri users instead of just the named plaintiffs.
Which Apple Devices Are Affected?
All Apple devices with Siri functionality, including iPhone, iPad, iPod touch, AirPods, CarPlay, Apple Watch, HomePod, Mac, MacBook, and Apple TV used by Illinois residents since September 14, 2014.
How Do I Know If I’m Eligible?
You’re eligible if you lived in Illinois and used Siri on any Apple device between September 14, 2014 and the present. You don’t need to be the original owner or still own the device.
Is There A Claim Deadline?
No claim deadline exists yet because the case hasn’t settled. You’ll automatically receive notice if a settlement is reached. Don’t respond to any emails or websites claiming to process Apple Siri BIPA claims now—they’re likely scams.
What Could I Receive If This Case Succeeds?
BIPA provides for $1,000 per negligent violation or $5,000 per intentional or reckless violation. The actual payout depends on whether the case settles or goes to trial, how many class members participate, and how damages are calculated.
Do I Need To Hire My Own Lawyer?
No. The court appointed David Golub and Jennifer Sclar of Silver Golub & Teitell LLP, Kevin Forde and Brian O’Meara of Forde & O’Meara LLP, and Zachary Freeman and Rachel Simon of Miller Shakman Levine & Feldman to represent the class.
Last Updated: February 9, 2026
Disclaimer: This article provides information about the Apple Siri BIPA class action lawsuit based on official court filings and legal news coverage. It is not legal advice. For case-specific questions, consult with qualified legal counsel.
Next Steps: Save documentation of your Illinois residency and Apple device ownership. Monitor court filings for settlement announcements or trial dates.
Stay informed, stay protected. — AllAboutLawyer.com
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.
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