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Apple has reached an agreement to pay $95 million to settle a lawsuit that accused the company of listening to users without their consent through its virtual assistant, Siri. The lawsuit claimed that Apple eavesdropped on customers and shared voice recordings with advertisers. Although Apple has not admitted any wrongdoing, the settlement allows the company to avoid a potentially lengthy court battle that could have resulted in a much larger financial penalty.
The lawsuit was initiated by a lead plaintiff, Fumiko Lopez, who alleged that she and her daughter were recorded without their knowledge while using Siri. They claimed that this led to them receiving targeted advertisements for products they had discussed, such as Air Jordans. The plaintiffs argued that Siri sometimes activated unintentionally, capturing conversations without the users explicitly saying “Hey, Siri” to trigger the assistant.
In the proposed settlement, Apple has denied the allegations, stating that it did not record or disclose conversations without consent. The company also mentioned that it has permanently deleted individual Siri audio recordings collected before October 2019. Despite these denials, the plaintiffs maintain that the recordings were used to enhance advertising targeting, raising concerns about privacy and user consent.
The class-action lawsuit allows a small group of individuals to represent a larger group of affected users. If the settlement is approved, each claimant in the United States could receive up to $20 for each Siri-enabled device they owned between 2014 and 2019. The legal fees for the lawyers involved in the case could amount to nearly $30 million, which represents 30% of the settlement amount plus additional expenses.
Apple has faced multiple class-action lawsuits in recent years, including a $500 million case related to the deliberate slowing down of iPhones and a $490 million settlement with Norfolk County Council in the UK. Additionally, a consumer group has initiated a class action against Apple for alleged overcharging related to its iCloud service. A similar lawsuit against Google is also underway, accusing the company of listening to users through its devices, highlighting ongoing concerns about privacy in the tech industry.
Original news source: Apple to pay $95m to settle Siri ‘listening’ lawsuit (BBC)
π§ Listen:
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π Vocabulary:
1 | settlement | An agreement reached between parties in a legal case |
2 | lawsuit | A legal case brought against someone in a court of law |
3 | eavesdropped | Secretly listened to someone’s conversation |
4 | allegations | Claims or assertions that someone has done something wrong |
5 | disclosed | Made known or revealed information |
6 | consent | Permission for something to happen or an agreement to do something |
7 | unintentionally | Done without intention or planning |
8 | explicitly | Clearly and directly expressed |
9 | claimant | A person making a claim, especially in a lawsuit |
10 | legal fees | Costs associated with hiring lawyers and legal representation |
11 | deliberate | Done on purpose; intentional |
12 | initiated | Started or begun a process or action |
13 | targeted | Directed at a specific group or individual |
14 | ongoing | Continuing or in progress |
15 | privacy | The state of being free from public attention or unsanctioned intrusion |
Group or Classroom Activities
Warm-up Activities:
– CHARADES
Instructions: Students will work in pairs. One student will pick a word or phrase related to the article (e.g., “settlement,” “lawsuit,” “Siri”) and act it out without speaking. The other student will guess the word. After a few rounds, students can switch roles.
– OPINION POLL
Instructions: Each student will create a question related to privacy and technology (e.g., “Do you think companies should ask for permission before recording conversations?”). Students will walk around the classroom, asking their peers their questions and recording the responses. Afterward, they will share their findings with the class.
– MIND MAP
Instructions: In groups, students will create a mind map based on the article’s themes, such as privacy, consent, and technology. They will brainstorm related words and phrases, organizing them visually on paper or a whiteboard. Each group will present their mind map to the class.
– HEADLINE CREATION
Instructions: Students will work in small groups to come up with a catchy headline for the article. They should focus on summarizing the main points creatively and concisely. Afterward, each group will share their headline and explain their reasoning.
– FUTURE PREDICTIONS
Instructions: In pairs, students will discuss and predict the future of technology and privacy based on the article. They should consider potential changes in laws, user behavior, and company practices. After 5-10 minutes, each pair will share their predictions with the class, and a group discussion will follow.
π€ Comprehension Questions:
1. What was the main accusation against Apple in the lawsuit regarding Siri?
2. Who was the lead plaintiff in the lawsuit, and what specific experience did she share?
3. How did the plaintiffs claim that Siri activated unintentionally?
4. What is the financial outcome of the settlement for Apple, and what does it allow the company to avoid?
5. What actions did Apple take regarding Siri audio recordings collected before October 2019?
6. How much could each claimant potentially receive if the settlement is approved?
7. What percentage of the settlement amount is expected to go toward legal fees for the lawyers involved in the case?
8. What other legal issues has Apple faced in recent years, and how do they relate to concerns about privacy?
Go to answers β©
π§βοΈ Listen and Fill in the Gaps:
Apple has (1)______ an agreement to pay $95 million to settle a (2)______ that accused the company of listening to users without their consent through its virtual assistant, Siri. The lawsuit (3)______ that Apple eavesdropped on customers and shared voice recordings with advertisers. Although Apple has not admitted any wrongdoing, the settlement allows the company to avoid a potentially lengthy court battle that could have resulted in a much larger financial penalty.
The lawsuit was (4)______ by a lead plaintiff, Fumiko Lopez, who alleged that she and her daughter were recorded without their knowledge while using Siri. They claimed that this led to them receiving targeted (5)______ for products they had discussed, such as Air Jordans. The plaintiffs argued that Siri sometimes (6)______ unintentionally, capturing conversations without the users explicitly saying “Hey, Siri” to trigger the assistant.
In the proposed settlement, Apple has (7)______ the allegations, (8)______ that it did not record or disclose conversations without consent. The company also mentioned that it has permanently deleted individual Siri audio recordings collected before October 2019. Despite these (9)______, the plaintiffs maintain that the recordings were used to enhance advertising targeting, raising concerns about privacy and user consent.
The class-action lawsuit allows a small group of individuals to (10)______ a larger group of affected (11)______. If the settlement is approved, each claimant in the United States could receive up to $20 for each Siri-enabled device they owned between 2014 and 2019. The (12)______ fees for the lawyers involved in the case could amount to nearly $30 million, which represents 30% of the settlement amount plus additional expenses.
Apple has (13)______ multiple (14)______-action lawsuits in recent years, including a $500 million case (15)______ to the deliberate slowing down of iPhones and a $490 million settlement with Norfolk County Council in the UK. Additionally, a consumer group has initiated a class action against Apple for alleged (16)______ related to its iCloud service. A similar lawsuit against Google is also underway, accusing the company of listening to users through its devices, highlighting ongoing concerns about privacy in the tech industry.
Go to answers β©
π¬ Discussion Questions:
Students can ask a partner these questions, or discuss them as a group.
1. What is your opinion on companies using virtual assistants that may listen to users without their consent?
2. How would you feel if you discovered that a device you own was recording your conversations without your knowledge?
3. Do you think users should be more informed about how their data is used by technology companies? Why or why not?
4. What is a reasonable expectation of privacy when using digital devices and applications?
5. How do you think the settlement of this lawsuit will affect Appleβs reputation among consumers?
6. Do you believe that financial settlements, like the one Apple agreed to, are effective in addressing privacy concerns? Why?
7. Have you ever experienced targeted advertisements that seemed too personal? How did that make you feel?
8. What is your experience with using virtual assistants like Siri, Alexa, or Google Assistant? Do you find them helpful or invasive?
9. Do you think itβs possible to maintain privacy in the digital age? Why or why not?
10. How would you react if a friend or family member expressed concern about their privacy regarding technology?
11. What is a potential solution to the privacy issues raised by the use of virtual assistants?
12. Do you think technology companies should be held accountable for privacy violations? Why or why not?
13. How would you feel if you had to pay a fee to use a service that also protected your privacy?
14. What do you think are the ethical implications of companies using data collected from users for advertising purposes?
15. How do you think public awareness of privacy issues has changed in recent years?
Individual Activities
ππ Vocabulary Meanings:
Match each word to its meaning.
Words:
1. settlement
2. lawsuit
3. eavesdropped
4. allegations
5. disclosed
6. consent
7. unintentionally
8. explicitly
9. claimant
10. legal fees
11. deliberate
12. initiated
13. targeted
14. ongoing
15. privacy
Meanings:
(A) A person making a claim, especially in a lawsuit
(B) Directed at a specific group or individual
(C) Permission for something to happen or an agreement to do something
(D) Clearly and directly expressed
(E) An agreement reached between parties in a legal case
(F) The state of being free from public attention or unsanctioned intrusion
(G) A legal case brought against someone in a court of law
(H) Started or begun a process or action
(I) Done without intention or planning
(J) Costs associated with hiring lawyers and legal representation
(K) Continuing or in progress
(L) Secretly listened to someone’s conversation
(M) Done on purpose; intentional
(N) Claims or assertions that someone has done something wrong
(O) Made known or revealed information
Go to answers β©
π‘ Multiple Choice Questions:
1. How much has Apple agreed to pay to settle the lawsuit regarding Siri?
(a) $50 million
(b) $75 million
(c) $100 million
(d) $95 million
2. Who was the lead plaintiff in the lawsuit against Apple?
(a) John Smith
(b) Fumiko Lopez
(c) Sarah Johnson
(d) Michael Brown
3. What did the plaintiffs allege Siri did without users’ knowledge?
(a) Recorded conversations
(b) Sent unsolicited messages
(c) Downloaded apps
(d) Changed settings
4. What is the maximum amount each claimant could receive if the settlement is approved?
(a) $50
(b) $100
(c) $10
(d) $20
5. What percentage of the settlement amount could the legal fees for the lawyers amount to?
(a) 20%
(b) 25%
(c) 30%
(d) 40%
6. What did Apple state regarding the recordings collected before October 2019?
(a) They were sold to advertisers
(b) They were stored for future use
(c) They were permanently deleted
(d) They were shared with third parties
7. What other lawsuits has Apple faced in recent years?
(a) Related to slowing down iPhones
(b) Related to battery life
(c) Related to app store fees
(d) Related to hardware issues
8. Which company is also facing a similar lawsuit regarding user privacy?
(a) Microsoft
(b) Google
(c) Amazon
(d) Facebook
Go to answers β©
π΅οΈ True or False Questions:
1. Apple has not encountered numerous class-action lawsuits in recent years, including cases related to the slowing down of iPhones and overcharging for its iCloud service.
2. Apple has agreed to pay $95 million to settle a lawsuit regarding the alleged eavesdropping by its virtual assistant, Siri.
3. Legal fees for the lawyers involved in the case could total nearly $30 million, which is 30% of the settlement amount plus additional expenses.
4. The lawsuit was initiated by Fumiko Lopez, who claimed she and her daughter were recorded with their consent while using Siri.
5. The plaintiffs argued that Siri could activate unintentionally, capturing conversations without the users saying “Hey, Siri.”
6. A different lawsuit against Google is currently in progress, accusing the company of not listening to users through its devices.
7. The proposed settlement could prevent claimants in the U.S. from receiving up to $20 for each Siri-enabled device they owned between 2014 and 2019.
8. Apple has denied any wrongdoing and stated that it did not record or disclose conversations without user consent.
Go to answers β©
π Write a Summary:
Write a summary of this news article in two sentences.
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Writing Questions:
Answer the following questions. Write as much as you can for each answer.
Check your answers with our free English writing assistant!
1. What were the main allegations made against Apple in the lawsuit regarding Siri?
2. How much could each claimant potentially receive if the settlement is approved?
3. What actions did Apple take regarding Siri audio recordings collected before October 2019?
4. What other legal issues has Apple faced in recent years, as mentioned in the article?
5. How does this lawsuit reflect broader concerns about privacy in the tech industry?
β Answers
π€β Comprehension Question Answers:
1. What was the main accusation against Apple in the lawsuit regarding Siri?
The main accusation was that Apple listened to users without their consent through its virtual assistant, Siri, and shared voice recordings with advertisers.
2. Who was the lead plaintiff in the lawsuit, and what specific experience did she share?
The lead plaintiff was Fumiko Lopez, who alleged that she and her daughter were recorded without their knowledge while using Siri, leading to them receiving targeted advertisements for products they had discussed.
3. How did the plaintiffs claim that Siri activated unintentionally?
The plaintiffs claimed that Siri sometimes activated unintentionally, capturing conversations without the users explicitly saying “Hey, Siri” to trigger the assistant.
4. What is the financial outcome of the settlement for Apple, and what does it allow the company to avoid?
Apple agreed to pay $95 million to settle the lawsuit, allowing the company to avoid a potentially lengthy court battle that could have resulted in a much larger financial penalty.
5. What actions did Apple take regarding Siri audio recordings collected before October 2019?
Apple mentioned that it has permanently deleted individual Siri audio recordings collected before October 2019.
6. How much could each claimant potentially receive if the settlement is approved?
Each claimant in the United States could receive up to $20 for each Siri-enabled device they owned between 2014 and 2019.
7. What percentage of the settlement amount is expected to go toward legal fees for the lawyers involved in the case?
Legal fees for the lawyers involved in the case could amount to nearly $30 million, which represents 30% of the settlement amount plus additional expenses.
8. What other legal issues has Apple faced in recent years, and how do they relate to concerns about privacy?
Apple has faced multiple class-action lawsuits, including a $500 million case related to the deliberate slowing down of iPhones and a $490 million settlement regarding its iCloud service. These issues relate to ongoing concerns about privacy in the tech industry.
Go back to questions β§
π§βοΈβ Listen and Fill in the Gaps Answers:
(1) reached
(2) lawsuit
(3) claimed
(4) initiated
(5) advertisements
(6) activated
(7) denied
(8) stating
(9) denials
(10) represent
(11) users
(12) legal
(13) faced
(14) class
(15) related
(16) overcharging
Go back to questions β§
ππβ Vocabulary Meanings Answers:
1. settlement
Answer: (E) An agreement reached between parties in a legal case
2. lawsuit
Answer: (G) A legal case brought against someone in a court of law
3. eavesdropped
Answer: (L) Secretly listened to someone’s conversation
4. allegations
Answer: (N) Claims or assertions that someone has done something wrong
5. disclosed
Answer: (O) Made known or revealed information
6. consent
Answer: (C) Permission for something to happen or an agreement to do something
7. unintentionally
Answer: (I) Done without intention or planning
8. explicitly
Answer: (D) Clearly and directly expressed
9. claimant
Answer: (A) A person making a claim, especially in a lawsuit
10. legal fees
Answer: (J) Costs associated with hiring lawyers and legal representation
11. deliberate
Answer: (M) Done on purpose; intentional
12. initiated
Answer: (H) Started or begun a process or action
13. targeted
Answer: (B) Directed at a specific group or individual
14. ongoing
Answer: (K) Continuing or in progress
15. privacy
Answer: (F) The state of being free from public attention or unsanctioned intrusion
Go back to questions β§
π‘β Multiple Choice Answers:
1. How much has Apple agreed to pay to settle the lawsuit regarding Siri?
Answer: (d) $95 million
2. Who was the lead plaintiff in the lawsuit against Apple?
Answer: (b) Fumiko Lopez
3. What did the plaintiffs allege Siri did without users’ knowledge?
Answer: (a) Recorded conversations
4. What is the maximum amount each claimant could receive if the settlement is approved?
Answer: (d) $20
5. What percentage of the settlement amount could the legal fees for the lawyers amount to?
Answer: (c) 30%
6. What did Apple state regarding the recordings collected before October 2019?
Answer: (c) They were permanently deleted
7. What other lawsuits has Apple faced in recent years?
Answer: (a) Related to slowing down iPhones
8. Which company is also facing a similar lawsuit regarding user privacy?
Answer: (b) Google
Go back to questions β§
π΅οΈβ True or False Answers:
1. Apple has not encountered numerous class-action lawsuits in recent years, including cases related to the slowing down of iPhones and overcharging for its iCloud service. (Answer: False)
2. Apple has agreed to pay $95 million to settle a lawsuit regarding the alleged eavesdropping by its virtual assistant, Siri. (Answer: True)
3. Legal fees for the lawyers involved in the case could total nearly $30 million, which is 30% of the settlement amount plus additional expenses. (Answer: True)
4. The lawsuit was initiated by Fumiko Lopez, who claimed she and her daughter were recorded with their consent while using Siri. (Answer: False)
5. The plaintiffs argued that Siri could activate unintentionally, capturing conversations without the users saying “Hey, Siri.” (Answer: True)
6. A different lawsuit against Google is currently in progress, accusing the company of not listening to users through its devices. (Answer: False)
7. The proposed settlement could prevent claimants in the U.S. from receiving up to $20 for each Siri-enabled device they owned between 2014 and 2019. (Answer: False)
8. Apple has denied any wrongdoing and stated that it did not record or disclose conversations without user consent. (Answer: True)
Go back to questions β§