AG百家乐在线官网

Apple makes Siri recordings optional after listening revelations

Apple says privacy is a "fundamental human right" and apologised to its customers for not "fully living up to our high ideals".

Siri is available on a variety of Apple devices
Image: Siri is available on a variety of Apple devices
Why you can trust Sky News

Apple will allow users to opt out of having their interactions with Siri recorded following claims by a former worker that they "regularly" overheard confidential encounters, including drug deals and people having sex.

The tech giant has announced changes to its policy regarding the voice assistant following an internal review, with critics having raised questions about its public commitment to privacy.

Unlike Facebook, Google and Amazon, until now Apple had not offered an option for people to opt out of its quality control scheme, whereby the company used audio samples heard by Siri to try and make it more responsive.

CUPERTINO, CA - SEPTEMBER 12: The new iPhone X is displayed during an Apple special event at the Steve Jobs Theatre on the Apple Park campus on September 12, 2017 in Cupertino, California. Apple held their first special event at the new Apple Park campus where they announced the new iPhone 8, iPhone X and the Apple Watch Series 3. (Photo by Justin Sullivan/Getty Images)
Image: The iPhone maker says its quality control scheme was designed to make Siri more responsive

But after revelations that human contractors assigned to Siri recordings were hearing private conversations, Apple has fallen in line with its rivals just a few weeks ahead of the expected launch of its new iPhones.

Owners of an Apple device equipped with Siri will be asked to opt in to any audio sample use when the programme resumes later this year - and company staff will be assigned to the scheme instead of contractors.

In a statement, the firm said: "We know that customers have been concerned by recent reports of people listening to audio Siri recordings as part of our Siri quality evaluation process - which we call grading.

"We heard their concerns, immediately suspended human grading of Siri requests and began a thorough review of our practices and policies. We've decided to make some changes to Siri as a result."

More on Apple

Apple stressed that it believed privacy is a "fundamental human right" and apologised to its customers for not "fully living up to our high ideals".

When the quality control scheme resumes, users will be able to allow for "computer-generated transcripts" of Siri interactions to be kept instead of audio recordings, to help the assistant improve.

Apple CEO Tim Cook speaks during a product launch event on September 12, 2018, in Cupertino, California. - New iPhones set to be unveiled Wednesday offer Apple a chance for fresh momentum in a sputtering smartphone market as the California tech giant moves into new products and services to diversify.Apple was expected to introduce three new iPhone models at its media event at its Cupertino campus, notably seeking to strengthen its position in the premium smartphone market a year after launching
Image: Apple chief executive Tim Cook has regularly spoken about the importance of privacy

The California-based company is the latest in an increasingly long line of major tech companies forced to address the issue of what is done with voice recordings.

Facebook has also admitted using contractors to listen to and transcribe recordings of users without their knowledge, but stopped carrying out the practice earlier this month.

While the only recordings used were taken from people who had opted in to having their voice transcribed to help the company improve its tools, they had expected to have only been heard by AI.

Instead, Facebook was until recently using contractors to review audio, which was sent via the Messenger app.

It is hoped the new feature will help patients take more control of their healthcare
Image: Amazon is among the tech firms which have addressed voice recordings

Amazon staff have also reportedly heard "distressing" recordings taken by Alexa voice assistants and the company , as has Google.

Last week, Microsoft told Sky News that it had used humans to review clips in the hope of improving voice-enabled services on its Xbox One after reports that children were among those that had been heard.

While it has stopped doing so since its Siri-style assistant named Cortana was stripped from the console, Microsoft said audio was still reviewed in cases in which gamers are reported for violating its terms of service.