Understanding the Lopez Voice Assistant settlement and its validity

I’m noticing that a lot of people are thinking it’s not worth it to file settlement claims. I used to think like this as well, but the first settlement I had filed a claim for and waited several years, thinking I might get a quarter which would contribute to the cost of doing laundry, I actually received over $100. I just looked at the settlement checks deposited in my checking account for last year and I received $468 for 2 settlements. I will say that it’s been worth it for someone on a fixed income! This year I have received $40.67, so it’s been a little rough. But I got the email for this settlement as well and since a lot of people look like they’re not going to file claims, maybe I’ll benefit from this! I’m being sarcastic and I encourage everyone to file claims when you get emails like this and confirm that it’s legit. The settlement administrators likely already have information that shows you qualify or they wouldn’t have contacted you with a claim code. I feel kind of stupid for encouraging you all to file claims that will take away from my own settlement earnings. But I am a part of this community and I would like to actually contribute.

If Siri is activated unintentionally and I’m talking to someone, that’s a private conversation that was obtained. I don’t know how that is paranoia. My conversations were not meant to be recorded and I’m pretty sure that they are if Siri is activated.

DeniseAndKing wrote:

Depending on your privacy settings, they sometimes do record you.

Improve Siri and Dictation & Privacy

And, you would have to specifically OPT-IN, if you chose to do that, it is not turned on by default. You cannot claim that you did not know Apple stored Siri data and turn that on at the same time. It states right under the switch to Improve Siri & Dictation setting:

• Help improve Siri and Dictation by allowing Apple to store and review audio of your Siri and Dictation interactions from the device. (and also includes a link to the article you posted above for more information)

So, which is it, did you turn on Improve Siri and Dicatation or not? If you did, you cannot claim you did not know simply because you did not read the text below the button that was switched on.

Because millions of users are potentially eligible and using multiple device. For example, in my household I have 10 + potentially eligible devices for my wife and I.

1. left HomePod
2. right HomePod
3. iPhone 16 Pro Max
4. iPhone 15 Pro Max
5. iPhone 7 Plus
6. iPhone Xr
7. Apple Watch Ultra
8. Apple Watch Series 5
9. iPad Pro Gen 5
10. iPad Pro Gen 3

In addition I have several Apple TV’s and Macs that are eligible, but 10 is the limit (5 per person). In theory it’s a maximum of $200 in total for my household. So, if just 1 million users apply and they average 5 devices, the total about of settlement funds required would be $100 million dollars and the fund would lacking adequate funds for maximum settlement of $20 per device. I suspect people may end up receiving only a few dollars per eligible device submitted per claim.

Ok, what do you want us to do about it? That site has nothing to do with Apple, if you need assistance with it you will need to contact the owner of the site and ask them.

Jeff Donald wrote:

• No, that’s incorrect. The $95 million is the amount set aside for the settlement to the class members. The attorney fees, court and administrative costs are not subtracted from that amount.

…

https://lopezvoiceassistantsettlement.com/

The $95 million is not all for the settlement for the class members. The plaintiffs' attorney fees, litigation costs, and service awards are going to be paid out of the $95 million.

You can confirm this by skimming the Important Documents on the site (such as the Settlement Agreement and Release) and by looking at the FAQ.

"Apple will pay $95 million into a settlement fund. After deduction of the costs of notice and settlement administration, taxes, any award of attorneys’ fees, litigation costs, and any Service Awards for the Class Representatives, the Net Settlement Amount will be distributed to Settlement Class Members in accordance with a plan of allocation that accounts for the number of valid claims submitted by the Settlement Class Members."

https://lopezvoiceassistantsettlement.com/faqs – item #7: "What does the Settlement provide"

There is a new document on that page, dated today, called the "Plaintiff's Counsel's Notice of Motion and Motion for Attorney's Fees and Expenses and Plaintiff's Application for Service Awards." It appears that the lawyers are still applying for 30% of the $95 million for Attorney's Fees, and up to $10,000 each for the Class Representatives, but are now only applying for $916,125.83 in litigation expenses (as opposed to $1,100,000.00 mentioned in the "Motion for Preliminary Approval."

You’ve it backwards and Servant of Cats already explained you can check and see exactly who the judge ordered to have the customers info and send notices from. I totally get how it can look like a scam, but in these types of cases it is never the company being sued that sends the email.

DeniseAndKing wrote:

The settlement administrators likely already have information that shows you qualify or they wouldn’t have contacted you with a claim code.

If you are eligible to make a claim, there's a good chance you will receive mail from the Settlement Administrators. But just receiving mail from them does not mean that you qualify.

You only qualify if you can truthfully claim, under oath, that Siri accidentally activated and then overheard a private and confidential conversation. The Administrators have no way of knowing if that happened or not, and it seems a pretty safe bet that it didn't happen to most of the people they will be contacting.

You do you, there really is nothing to debate. As you have seen in the notice you were sent, you may be a class member. It is up to you to determine that and what you're comfortable agreeing to under oath. No one here can make that decision for you and I also would not recommend telling someone to make a statement under oath that they don't necessarily agree with.

DeniseAndKing wrote:

I’m not here to debate. I used to be into debating, but unfortunately I lost my ability to debate. But that’s another story.

I only wanted to explain that I had gotten way more than a lot of people seem to think these kinds of settlements involve. I used to think I would be lucky to get a penny, but as I said, I got $468 last year from two settlements.

The email from the settlement administrator says that Apple’s records indicate that I may be a settlement class member, so they have access to some kind of records and that’s enough for me. Like I said I’m not here to debate anything. I only wanted to let people know that there is more money involved in these settlements than many people think.

The maximum anyone can get is $100 and that is only if they claim 5 devices which is all anyone can claim. Otherwise, it's up to $20 for one device. Not exactly a huge payday and they also have to certify under oath they experienced at least one unintended Siri Activation and that one of the activations occurred during a conversation intended to confidential or private.

Honestly, how many people can claim UNDER OATH this happened to them? Siri, like all digital assistants is listening. That's what they do. But they generally don't wake up unless we say "Hey Siri" or "Siri." There are however words which can sound similar to Siri, which could wake her. Just like when my niece Alexis visits, Alexa on my Echo devices often wakes when I say her name in a conversation. Nothing nefarious. This entire case is nothing more than fodder. But sure, people will line up for a payout, even if they really don't deserve one.

DeniseAndKing wrote:

Actually I was just going to talk about my new Echo Show 8 (3rd generation) which I have seen randomly listening. The blue bar on the bottom will light up and nobody is even talking. The blue bar indicates that Alexa is listening. And this will continue for a minute or so until I tell Alexa to stop listening. This is only when I happen to notice it.

How can we do that as easily with devices we have had over a 10 year period? It’s just not as noticeable with a phone we’re carrying in our pockets or our watches which are covered by our sleeves. But I do know that my watch Siris have often been unintentionally activated. Yes, I accidentally pressed the crown to activate her many times when I would bend my wrist and I had the crown on the side of my wrist that would touch my hand when I bent my wrist.

And then my current iPad had an issue with Siri not turning off until I pressed somewhere on the screen or the home button (yes it is that old) when I asked her a question. I am sure that I didn’t know about that the entire time it was happening. So I have to say that private and confidential communications were obtained all that time and I don’t know how long it was going on.

I’m not that creative that I can just make things up like this when I’m unable to sleep. These are real examples of unintentional activation. I’m sure that Siri can be activated and private communications obtained in other ways.

Private conversations were obtained? Apple isn't listening to your conversations with or without Siri. That's just pure paranoia.

You don't seem to understand that this is a technical support forum. Not a place to debate whether you were aware of something or not or feel you have a right to compensation.

The question originally asked has been answered. Please move on.

Apple was likely served a subpoena to turn potentially impacted claimants over to the law firm who is leading the class action. This would be a clause in apple’s privacy notice you consented to. The firm won’t turn around and sell/share your information, they can only use it for the purpose of the law suit.

You don't need to consent to this specific event. They received your contact info via discovery in the lawsuit. It's standard procedure. They did not violate your rights. In fact, if you read Apple's Terms of Service carefully, you will find that several of Apple’s service agreements contain a ‟legal-process” clause that lets the company hand over account or other identifying details — including contact information — when it receives a valid subpoena, court order, or similar legal demand (which is exactly what happens in a civil lawsuit).

That’s just an assumption, there is no evidence that was any judges order