Apple has agreed to pay $95 million to resolve a civil lawsuit that alleges the company used its virtual assistant Siri to secretly listen in on individuals using its iPhones and other popular devices, according to CBS News.

The proposed settlement was submitted on Tuesday in a federal court in Oakland, California. The lawsuit, which has been ongoing for five years, centers on accusations that Apple covertly activated Siri to capture conversations through iPhones and other devices for over a decade.

The alleged recordings took place even when individuals did not activate the virtual assistant using the phrase,

“Hey, Siri.”

According to the lawsuit, some of these recorded conversations were shared with advertisers to target consumers who might be interested in their products and services. These claims challenge Apple’s longstanding pledge to safeguard its customers’ privacy.

Apple is not admitting to any misconduct as part of the settlement, which still requires approval from U.S. District Judge Jeffrey White. Attorneys involved in the case have suggested scheduling a court hearing in Oakland on February 14 to examine the settlement terms. If approved, millions of consumers who owned iPhones and other Apple devices from September 17, 2014, to the end of last year could submit claims. Each eligible consumer could receive up to $20 for each Siri-enabled device included in the settlement, although the final amount may vary based on the total number of claims.

Estimates in court documents indicate that only 3% to 5% of eligible consumers are likely to file claims. Compensation will be limited to a maximum of five devices per consumer. The attorneys who initiated the lawsuit may request up to $29.6 million from the settlement fund to cover their fees and other expenses, as noted in the court documents.

#Clique, what are your thoughts?