Apple has admitted that outsiders have had access to recordings of users’ conversations made through accidental activation of Siri. However, the company still denies that advertisers have access to such recordings. The Siri eavesdropping lawsuit has led Apple to recall old rumors that the company resorts to targeting ads using data about preferences obtained through the voice assistant. Apple has had to publicly respond to these rumors, strongly denying that it has ever allowed advertisers to use recordings created by Siri.
“Apple has never used Siri data to create marketing profiles, has never made it available for advertising, and has never sold it to anyone for any purpose. We are constantly developing technology to make Siri even more private, and we will continue to do so,” Apple said in a statement. It also clarifies that the recorded conversations were obtained accidentally, and the company has taken measures to address any privacy concerns arising from such instances.
Apple further states that it does not store audio recordings of interactions with Siri unless users explicitly agree to help improve the voice assistant. Even then, the recordings are used solely for that purpose, the company says. Moreover, it emphasizes that users can easily opt out of storing this data at any time.
Denial of Advertiser Access
The discussion around Apple’s Siri data handling also brings to mind similar denials from Facebook and Google regarding recordings from gadget microphones being used to target ads. Both of these companies have repeatedly stated that they do not eavesdrop on user conversations for advertising purposes. Yet many users have, at various points, reported observing products they talked about with others suddenly appearing in ads.
Experts have tried multiple times to investigate why users might see such ads. As The Verge notes, a 2018 investigation found no conclusive evidence of microphone spying. However, the inquiry discovered that some apps were secretly recording users’ on-screen actions and transmitting that information to third parties. This suggests that, while overt microphone spying may be rare or unproven, certain applications and networks might still harvest user data in less obvious ways.
Ad-targeting networks also track individuals who are logged into the same network or who spend time in the same places. Even if one person does not enter a specific search term, someone else in proximity might do so, resulting in targeted ads appearing on the first person’s devices. These overlapping data practices can create situations where users suspect they are being directly spied on via their microphones, even though other factors may be responsible.
Ongoing Discussions on Privacy
Apple has consistently emphasized its commitment to maintaining user privacy, repeating that Siri data is never shared with advertisers. Nevertheless, the eavesdropping lawsuit continues to draw attention to broader concerns about how technology companies handle personal information, notes NIX Solutions. As similar rumors and incidents surface, we’ll keep you updated on any developments that might impact user trust and privacy practices.
No major mistakes were found in the original text, though minor clarifications have been made to ensure coherence. Overall, the central point remains that Apple denies giving advertisers any direct access to Siri recordings, while acknowledging accidental recordings do occur. The company maintains that any audio stored is used solely to improve Siri, and it allows users to opt out of storage at their discretion.