How Siri Has Been Listening To Your Every Word

Only three days into the new year and already a rather unsettling AI story that should be of great concern to all of us has come to light.

Upon reading an email from AI Report, I was immediately shocked to discover this story by Amanda Greenwood at the head of the page.

‘Apple’s shocking Siri blunder

Apple will pay $95M to settle a lawsuit alleging that Siri recorded private conversations without permission. 

Apple has agreed to pay $95M to settle a decade-long lawsuit that accuses its voice assistant, Siri, of listening to and recording users’ conversations without permission, and Apple of passing these private conversations onto third-party advertisers.

From 17th September 2014 until 31st December 2024, users with an Apple device could be eligible to receive up to $20 per device if they feel — and can swear by oath — that Siri inadvertently listened to their conversations without their permission.’

As it happens, my wife bought me an Apple Smartwatch and yes, Siri has been listening to me when I was not talking to her. At least half a dozen times, whilst chatting with my wife or speaking my thoughts aloud whilst alone, Siri suddenly interjected. I didn’t quite catch exactly what she said, but she was plainly responding to something I had said.

The thought that my intimate conversations with my wife and expressions of what I was idly thinking whilst sitting at my desk have set me on edge. That is nothing less than an invasion of my privacy. 

The idea that the content of those utterances has been passed on to a third party for financial gain has now dented my confidence and made me very wary of wearing a device that is nothing less than a Trojan horse being used to get inside my personal life fortress.

This all makes me wonder if it is not only the Smartwatch but also my Apple computer and mobile phone that are eavesdropping and selling me down the river of corporate commerce. Whichever way you slice it, it is nothing less than scandalous on a grand scale.

What this news does is call into question the whole concept of AI and its actual and potential uses. There isn’t any doubt about the benefits of AI in commercial, industrial, social and personal spheres. However, as with pretty much everything in life, there is always a downside to consider. 

For example, I can see the undoubted benefits of using 360 or the Apple Health app to keep track of what I am doing as well as where and when I am doing it. This can be a great aid in helping me to control my life, as well as keeping people safe and solving crimes. But that same information can be used against me if it is sold to a third party whose only interest is in taking me for more than a ride on my bike. Indeed, one wonders what other scurrilous shenanigans are going on behind the scenes.

To say that this news has shades of Orwell’s Big Brother would be an understatement. There are very strong undercurrent tones of global surveillance of people's private lives. In this case, it seems it was merely for commercial gain. However, it could just as easily be for other far more sinister aims.

One final thing that stands out is that it has been claimed that Siri listening in was ‘inadvertent’. Ok, that could well be the case. But the selling of the information gained could not have possibly been in any way, shape or form, ‘inadvertent.’

One thing is for sure, this news is a wake-up call unlike any other Siri has given to her unwitting host. Be warned, and be afraid, be very, very afraid.