Following a lawsuit regarding the “unlawful and intentional recording” of interactions with Siri, Apple has agreed to a $95 million settlement. Nonetheless, the company has released an article to reiterate its dedication to privacy and to explain the workings of Siri.
Apple Reaffirms Its Commitment to Siri Privacy
In a statement posted on its press website, Apple asserts its “commitment to safeguarding user data” and emphasizes that its products are “constructed from the ground up” with privacy technologies. The company claims that it has never utilized Siri data to create marketing profiles nor provided such data to advertisers.
According to Apple, Siri makes use of on-device processing wherever feasible, allowing requests to be processed offline without sending data to Apple’s servers. “For instance, when a user asks Siri to read unread messages or when Siri offers suggestions via widgets and search, this processing occurs on the user’s device,” Apple clarifies.
Furthermore, Apple states that the audio of user requests is not transmitted to the company unless the user opts to share it as feedback.
In some instances where Siri must connect to Apple’s servers, the company contends that these requests are made anonymously via a “random identifier” that is not linked to the user’s Apple account. This method ensures that no tracking or identification of the data is possible. Additionally, audio recordings are removed unless users have opted to share them with Apple.
In the article, Apple also mentions that similar privacy measures are in place for Apple Intelligence, which processes a majority of data on the device itself. “For Apple Intelligence requests requiring access to larger models, Private Cloud Compute enhances the privacy and security of the iPhone by extending it to the cloud for increased intelligence,” the company adds.
Lawsuit Concerning Data Collected via Siri
The lawsuit, filed in 2019, alleged that Apple recorded conversations through Siri without users’ consent and that these interactions were subsequently shared with third-party services leading to targeted advertising. This situation was linked to the “Hey Siri” command, which necessitates that the device remain constantly listening with its microphone activated.
Even though the company has emphasized its pledge to privacy and highlighted changes made to enhance Siri’s security and privacy over the years, it has nonetheless agreed to settle the lawsuit. Details regarding claims for compensation are not yet available.
Additional information about Apple’s privacy policies can be accessed on the company’s website.
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