Apple has reiterated its stance on privacy, asserting that it has never used Siri data to build marketing profiles, sold the data to third parties, or made it available for advertising purposes. The statement follows the tech giant’s decision to pay $95 million to settle a class-action lawsuit alleging that Siri had recorded private conversations and disclosed them to advertisers and third parties.
“We are constantly developing technologies to make Siri even more private and will continue to do so,” Apple said in a statement.
According to the company, its products and features are designed with privacy as a cornerstone, employing innovative techniques to ensure user data remains protected. “Privacy is a foundational part of the design process, driven by principles that include data minimisation, on-device intelligence, transparency and control, and strong security protections that work together to provide users with incredible experiences and peace of mind,” the company emphasized.
Apple explained that Siri is designed to process as much data as possible directly on the user’s device. This approach enables personalized experiences without transferring or analyzing personal information on Apple servers. For example, requests such as reading unread messages or providing search suggestions are processed entirely on the user’s device.
However, Apple acknowledged that some features require real-time input from its servers. Even in these cases, Siri uses minimal data to deliver accurate results and ensures that searches and requests are not associated with users’ Apple Accounts.
The company also clarified that it does not retain audio recordings of Siri interactions unless users explicitly opt-in to help improve Siri. Even for those who opt-in, the recordings are used solely for enhancement purposes, and users can opt-out at any time.
Apple’s emphasis on privacy comes in the wake of increasing scrutiny over tech companies’ data practices. The $95 million settlement highlights the growing demand for transparency and accountability in how user data is managed.
(Inputs from IANS)
