Apple agrees to pay $95 million settlement in eavesdropping lawsuit

Apple users could soon be eligible for compensation as the tech giant agreed to a $95 million settlement in connection with allegations that the company spied on users using the Siri virtual assistant. According to the Associated Press, the company did not admit any wrongdoing in the matter, but agreed to the settlement, which would end the lawsuit filed five years ago.

Apple is accused of secretly activating Siri and recording users without their knowledge and then using the information collected in the recordings to sell advertising. The recordings were allegedly made through Siri-equipped iPhones and other Apple products.

The deal must now be approved by a judge, and lawyers involved in the matter have proposed scheduling a court hearing on Feb. 14 to review the terms, according to the AP. If approved, millions of Apple users will be able to file a claim for a refund.

Users who owned select Apple devices from September 17, 2014 to the end of last year may be eligible to file a claim. Users would be eligible to receive up to $20 per Siri-equipped device covered by the deal, with a maximum of five devices per person. However, as more people apply, the amount each will receive will decrease.

Attorneys on the case estimate that only 3% to 5% of eligible consumers are expected to file claims. The total amount available to users will also be affected by the lawyers in the case, who can request up to $29.6 million from the settlement fund to cover their fees and other expenses related to the case.