Apple has agreed to pay $95 million to settle a class action lawsuit alleging its Siri voice assistant violated users’ privacy. The lawsuit claimed that Apple recorded users’ private conversations without consent when the ‘Hey, Siri’ feature was unintentionally triggered. These recordings were allegedly shared with third parties, including advertisers, leading to targeted ads based on private discussions.
The class period for the lawsuit spans from 17 September 2014 to 31 December 2024 and applies to users of Siri-enabled devices like iPhones and Apple Watches. Affected users could receive up to $20 per device. Apple denied any wrongdoing but settled the case to avoid prolonged litigation.
The settlement amount is a small fraction of Apple’s annual profits, with the company making nearly $94 billion in net income last year. While the company and plaintiffs’ lawyers have yet to comment on the settlement, the plaintiffs may seek up to $28.5 million in legal fees and expenses. A similar lawsuit involving Google’s Voice Assistant is also underway in a California federal court.
The Sixth Circuit Court of Appeals has struck down federal net neutrality rules, ruling that the US Federal Communications Commission (FCC) does not have the authority to regulate internet service providers (ISPs) in this way. The decision challenges the FCC’s attempt to reclassify ISPs as common carriers under Title II of the Communications Act, a move to prevent discrimination in internet traffic, such as slowing speeds or blocking content.
The court’s ruling follows the Supreme Court’s 2024 decision to eliminate Chevron deference, a legal principle that typically allows courts to defer to regulatory agencies’ interpretations. With this shift, the judges were free to question the FCC’s interpretation of the law and ultimately concluded that ISPs cannot be regulated as telecommunications services.
The decision has sparked a call for legislative action. FCC Chair Jessica Rosenworcel urged lawmakers to pass laws safeguarding net neutrality, reflecting public demand for a fair and open internet. Meanwhile, Republican figures, including FCC Commissioner Brendan Carr, celebrated the ruling, viewing it as a victory against government overreach in regulating the internet.
This legal setback comes as the Biden administration’s push for net neutrality faces increasing challenges, and it remains uncertain whether future attempts to reinstate the rules will succeed.
Anthropic, the company behind the Claude AI model, has agreed to resolve aspects of a copyright infringement lawsuit filed by major music publishers. The lawsuit, initiated in October 2023 by Universal Music Group, ABKCO, Concord Music Group, and others, alleged that Anthropic’s AI system unlawfully distributed lyrics from over 500 copyrighted songs, including tracks by Beyoncé and Maroon 5.
The publishers argued that Anthropic improperly used data from licensed platforms to train its models without permission. Under the settlement approved by US District Judge Eumi Lee, Anthropic will maintain and extend its guardrails designed to prevent copyright violations in existing and future AI models.
The company also agreed to collaborate with music publishers to address potential infringements and resolve disputes through court intervention if necessary. Anthropic reiterated its commitment to fair use principles and emphasised that its AI is not intended for copyright infringement.
Despite the agreement, the legal battle isn’t over. The music publishers have requested a preliminary injunction to prevent Anthropic from using their lyrics in future model training. A court decision on this request is expected in the coming months, keeping the spotlight on how copyright law applies to generative AI.
Do Kwon, the South Korean cryptocurrency entrepreneur responsible for the collapse of TerraUSD and Luna currencies, pleaded not guilty to US criminal fraud charges on Thursday. The plea followed his extradition from Montenegro earlier this week.
Kwon, co-founder of Terraform Labs, is accused of orchestrating a multi-billion-dollar fraud scheme that led to an estimated $40 billion loss in cryptocurrency value in 2022. Federal prosecutors in Manhattan unsealed a nine-count indictment against Kwon, charging him with securities fraud, wire fraud, commodities fraud, and conspiracy to commit money laundering.
The indictment claims Kwon deceived investors by falsely promoting TerraUSD as a stablecoin guaranteed to maintain its $1 value. Prosecutors allege that when TerraUSD’s value dropped in 2021, Kwon secretly enlisted a high-frequency trading firm to inflate the token’s price, misleading investors and artificially boosting its sister token, Luna.
These alleged misrepresentations drove substantial investment into Terraform Labs’ products, propelling Luna’s market value to $50 billion by early 2022. However, the scheme unravelled in May 2022 when TerraUSD and Luna crashed, causing turmoil in the broader cryptocurrency market.
Kwon, 33, remains in custody in Manhattan after declining to seek bail during his initial court appearance. His trial is set to begin on 8 January. Kwon has faced mounting legal troubles, including a $4.55 billion settlement with the US Securities and Exchange Commission and a federal jury finding him liable for defrauding investors earlier this year.
His case is part of a broader crackdown on cryptocurrency figures, including FTX’s Sam Bankman-Fried and Celsius Network’s Alex Mashinsky, as US authorities tighten scrutiny over the volatile industry.
GlobalFoundries and IBM announced on Thursday that they have resolved their legal dispute over alleged contract breaches and misuse of trade secrets. The confidential settlement ended lawsuits in which IBM accused GlobalFoundries of violating a $1.5 billion contract for high-performance chips. At the same time, GlobalFoundries countered with claims that IBM misused its trade secrets during partnerships with Intel and Japan’s Rapidus consortium.
The legal conflict stemmed from GlobalFoundries’ 2015 acquisition of IBM’s semiconductor plants, a deal that was later scrutinised in court. Despite the contentious history, the companies stated that the settlement opens doors for potential collaboration, signalling a move beyond their acrimonious past.
GlobalFoundries, backed by Abu Dhabi’s sovereign wealth fund Mubadala, has also expanded its semiconductor footprint. In November, the US Commerce Department awarded the chipmaker $1.5 billion to bolster New York and Vermont production. This financial boost aligns with the broader US push to strengthen domestic semiconductor manufacturing amid global supply chain challenges.
In the final days of Joe Biden’s US presidency, the SEC pressured Elon Musk to settle allegations of securities violations related to his 2022 Twitter takeover or face civil charges. Musk’s response, shared via social media, included a legal letter accusing the SEC of an ‘improperly motivated’ ultimatum and demanding to know if the White House had influenced the action. Both the SEC and White House declined to comment.
As Donald Trump prepares to take office, questions arise about how Musk’s ties to the incoming administration could impact ongoing federal investigations into his business ventures, including Tesla, SpaceX, and Neuralink. Sources reveal at least 20 active probes into issues ranging from Tesla’s driver-assistance systems to SpaceX’s environmental practices.
Critics warn that Trump’s administration might scale back regulatory scrutiny, while legal experts argue that evidence-based cases could still proceed regardless of Musk’s political connections. Musk’s proximity to Trump has intensified since the election, with Musk participating in high-profile meetings and being appointed to co-lead a government efficiency initiative.
Musk has openly discussed using his position to push policies that could benefit his businesses, such as easing driverless-vehicle regulations. Meanwhile, ongoing investigations, including those by the DOJ and the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, face uncertainties over enforcement under the new administration.
Musk’s business dealings, including contacts with foreign leaders and regulatory disputes, continue to draw attention. Despite allegations of political interference, agencies like the EPA and NASA have emphasised their commitment to legal responsibilities. However, critics fear that Musk’s influence could undermine the integrity of federal oversight during Trump’s second term.
Texas lawmakers are considering a significant step in regulating artificial intelligence with the proposed Responsible AI Governance Act. The legislation targets high-risk AI systems, defining them as tools influencing decisions on education, employment, healthcare, and other critical services. Developers and deployers of such systems would face stringent requirements under the Act.
The draft mandates developers to produce detailed risk reports and maintain data records, ensuring transparency. Deployers must oversee human involvement in AI-driven decisions and report discrimination risks promptly. Regular assessments are required to address potential algorithmic biases and ensure compliance with intended uses.
The Act also sets clear prohibitions, including bans on systems manipulating behaviour, social scoring, and unauthorised biometric data collection. Developers and deployers must disclose to consumers when interacting with AI, providing clear explanations of system purposes and decision-making processes.
With enforcement led by the Texas Attorney General, businesses are urged to evaluate their practices and prepare for potential changes. The legislation could serve as a model for AI governance nationwide, shaping the future of ethical AI development and deployment.
Montenegro has extradited Terraform Labs co-founder Do Kwon to the US, where he faces charges related to investor deception and the collapse of the TerraUSD cryptocurrency. The Montenegrin interior ministry confirmed Kwon was handed over to US law enforcement at Podgorica airport.
Kwon, a South Korean national, was arrested in March 2023 while attempting to leave Montenegro. The Supreme Court recently ruled that legal conditions for extradition were met, prompting Justice Minister Bojan Bozovic to approve the US request. His legal team has appealed the decision at Montenegro’s Constitutional Court.
The former CEO of Terraform Labs is accused of misleading investors about TerraUSD’s stability. The cryptocurrency collapsed in May 2022, triggering an estimated $40 billion in market losses. Kwon and his company are also being sued by the US Securities and Exchange Commission over allegations of fraud involving TerraUSD and Luna.
Stablecoins are digital assets designed to maintain a fixed value, typically pegged to a fiat currency. TerraUSD’s failure undermined trust in their stability and shook the broader cryptocurrency market.
The US Department of Justice and the Federal Trade Commission have initiated legal proceedings against fintech company Dave and its CEO, Jason Wilk. Allegations include deceptive advertising practices linked to cash advances promoted on the platform, some of which users reportedly never received.
Authorities argue the company engaged in unfair practices, including hidden fees, misuse of customer tips, and inadequate cancellation processes for recurring charges. The complaint seeks monetary penalties, consumer redress, and measures to prevent future violations.
Dave denies the allegations, asserting many claims are inaccurate. The company has introduced a simplified fee structure, removing tips and express fees regulators criticised. However, the updated structure was implemented on 4 December for new users, with existing customers transitioning gradually.
The legal filing replaces an earlier complaint from November, initially targeting the company without seeking penalties. Regulators now aim for broader accountability by including the CEO in the amended complaint.
The owner of TikTok, ByteDance, plans a significant $7 billion investment in AI hardware by 2025. The company is turning to Nvidia chips despite US-imposed restrictions on AI chip exports to China. ByteDance has devised methods to bypass these curbs by storing chips in data centres outside China, particularly in Southeast Asia, without breaching restrictions.
The United States introduced export restrictions in 2022, citing security concerns about Chinese companies accessing advanced AI hardware. ByteDance has denied any ties to the Chinese government, countering allegations raised by US lawmakers. Meanwhile, the restrictions have drawn warnings from Chinese industry bodies about over-reliance on US technology, a scenario that could also affect companies like Nvidia and AMD.
US President-elect Donald Trump is advocating for a delay in the January 19 TikTok ban deadline. He hopes for more time to pursue a political solution that avoids disruption to TikTok’s 170 million US users. Legal challenges filed by ByteDance against the ban, which it argues infringes free speech, have so far failed to yield results.
The Supreme Court is set to hear arguments on the matter on January 10, marking a final chance for ByteDance, TikTok, and US authorities to present their cases. Trump recently met TikTok CEO Shou Zi Chew, describing the platform as holding a ‘warm spot’ in his heart. However, over 20 state attorneys general and the Justice Department have labelled the app a national security risk, urging the court to uphold the ban.
