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Apple has agreed to pay $95 million to settle a proposed class-action lawsuit alleging that its Siri voice assistant violated users’ privacy. The preliminary settlement, filed Tuesday in federal court in Oakland, California, requires approval from U.S. District Judge Jeffrey White. The lawsuit claimed that Siri, Apple’s voice-activated assistant, routinely recorded users’ private conversations when accidentally triggered, sharing these recordings with third parties such as advertisers. Siri typically activates in response to “hot words” like “Hey, Siri.” Some plaintiffs reported unexpected advertisements linked to private conversations. One user said discussions about Air Jordan sneakers and Olive Garden led to targeted ads for those products, while another received ads for a specific surgical treatment after mentioning it to their doctor. The class action covers individuals who used Siri-enabled devices between September 17, 2014, and December 31, 2024. This timeframe corresponds with Siri’s adoption of the “Hey, Siri” feature, which the lawsuit alleges caused unauthorized recordings. Millions of affected users could be eligible to receive up to $20 per device, including iPhones and Apple Watches. Apple has denied any wrongdoing but agreed to the settlement to resolve the matter. The company, based in Cupertino, California, has not commented on the case. Lawyers for the plaintiffs, who could seek up to $28.5 million in fees and $1.1 million in expenses from the settlement fund, also did not provide a statement. The settlement amount is equivalent to about nine hours of Apple’s profits, as the company reported $93.74 billion in net income during its most recent fiscal year. A similar lawsuit against Google over its Voice Assistant is pending in federal court in San Jose, California, within the same district as the Apple case. The same legal teams represent the plaintiffs in both lawsuits. The case against Apple is Lopez et al v. Apple Inc., U.S. District Court, Northern District of California, No. 19-04577. https://lnkd.in/g8YR6UVB https://lnkd.in/dw-rsrA https://lnkd.in/ga5trsze

A tragic incident unfolded on Bourbon Street in the French Quarter of New Orleans during New Year celebrations, where a man drove a Ford pick-up truck into a crowd of revelers. Authorities identified the suspect as 42-year-old Shamsud-Din Jabbar, a U.S. citizen from Texas and former Army staff sergeant. The attack, which police described as intentional, left at least 15 people dead and dozens injured. Police Chief Anne Kirkpatrick stated, “This man was trying to run over as many people as he could,” adding that Jabbar also fired at officers before being killed in a firefight. The FBI discovered an ISIS flag, weapons, and a suspected explosive device in the rented vehicle. Additional IEDs were safely dismantled nearby. Jabbar, who served in the military from 2007 to 2020, had been deployed to Afghanistan in 2009. He later transitioned to a career in real estate, promoting his services online. Officials are investigating potential connections between Jabbar and other incidents, including a separate explosion in Las Vegas. President Joe Biden confirmed that Jabbar had expressed a “desire to kill” in a video posted before the attack. Authorities are examining his affiliations with terrorist organizations. Jabbar had prior legal issues, including arrests for theft and driving with an invalid license, as well as a history of domestic disputes. His second divorce was finalized in 2022, with joint custody of his child granted. Investigations remain ongoing, with authorities probing possible accomplices and links to other recent incidents. https://lnkd.in/g8YR6UVB https://lnkd.in/dw-rsrA https://lnkd.in/ga5trsze

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Starting the new year, minimum-wage workers in 21 states will receive a boost in their paychecks. These changes are part of a wave of thousands of new laws taking effect as 2025 begins. The Economic Policy Institute (EPI), a think tank that examines economic trends, estimates that these wage increases will impact 9.2 million workers, collectively raising pay by $5.7 billion. Additionally, 48 cities and counties are set to implement higher minimum wages than their respective state levels beginning Tuesday. California, for example, is increasing its minimum wage from $16 to $16.50, joining 14 other states that are adjusting wages to account for inflation. According to EPI, full-time minimum-wage workers in these states can expect to earn approximately $420 more annually. Five states are implementing increases due to previously passed legislation, while Nebraska and Montana are enacting changes following voter-approved ballot measures. By 2027, EPI projects that at least 19 states and Washington, D.C., will have a minimum wage of $15 or higher. Meanwhile, the federal minimum wage remains at $7.25 an hour—a rate unchanged for 15 years. As inflation drives up the cost of essentials like groceries and housing, the purchasing power of a dollar has significantly diminished, leaving many workers struggling. Research indicates that a full-time worker earning the federal minimum wage of $7.25 makes only $20 above the poverty guideline for a single-person household. For those with children or dependents, their income falls below poverty levels. Who Benefits the Most? The wage increases are expected to have the greatest impact on women and Black and Hispanic workers. EPI highlights the role of higher minimum wages in reducing poverty, supporting families, and addressing wage disparities across race and gender. Women account for nearly 60% of workers benefiting from these increases, while over 11% of affected workers are Black, and nearly 40% are Hispanic. Despite these raises, EPI cautions that many minimum wages may still fall short of keeping up with rising costs of living. This is particularly true in areas where inflation-linked adjustments have not been reexamined in years. For example, Ohio’s minimum wage, last significantly raised in 2007, will only rise from $10.45 to $10.70 in 2025 due to an inflation adjustment. Economic Concerns Shape Political Outcomes Economic pressures, including high food and housing costs, were top priorities for voters in the 2024 election. Analysts have cited dissatisfaction with the economy as a major factor contributing to President-elect Donald Trump’s victory, despite Federal Reserve Chairman Jerome Powell and other experts maintaining that the U.S. economy ended 2024 on stable footing. https://lnkd.in/g8YR6UVB https://lnkd.in/dw-rsrA https://lnkd.in/ga5trsze