Technology
Apple Suspends Listening to Siri Queries Amid Privacy Outcry
(Bloomberg) — Apple said on Thursday it is suspending its global internal program for “grading” a portion of user Siri commands after some consumers raised concerns about the program.
The Cupertino, California-based technology giant employs people that listen to less than 1% of Siri commands in order to improve the voice-based digital assistant.
One Job in The Banking World Where There Aren’t Enough Men
Concerns over technology companies listening to and analyzing what is spoken to voice assistants started to be raised after Bloomberg News first reported that Amazon.com Inc. and Apple had teams analyzing recordings earlier this year. Last week, the Guardian reported that Apple contractors said that they often hear sex, drug deals and confidential medical information.
“We are committed to delivering a great Siri experience while protecting user privacy,” Apple said in a statement. “While we conduct a thorough review, we are suspending Siri grading globally. Additionally, as part of a future software update, users will have the ability to choose to participate in grading.”
The company’s move comes the same week that a German regulator temporarily stopped Google employees and contractors from transcribing home assistant voice recordings in the European Union after whistleblowers said some recordings contained sensitive information. A Hamburg agency said Aug. 1 that Google agreed to a three-month stoppage while it investigates whether the practice complies with the EU’s General Data Protection Regulation.
Thousands of Amazon Workers Are Listening to What You Tell Alexa
Bloomberg News reported in April that Amazon employs thousands of people around the world who listen to voice recordings captured by its line of Echo speakers in owners’ homes and offices, with the goal of improving its Alexa digital assistant. The recordings are transcribed, annotated and then fed back into the software as part of an effort to eliminate gaps in Alexa’s understanding of human speech and help it better respond to commands.
Apple’s Siri also has human helpers, who work to gauge whether the digital assistant’s interpretation of requests lines up with what the person said. The recordings they review lack personally identifiable information and are stored for six months tied to a random identifier, according to an Apple security white paper. The company doesn’t disclose directly in iOS that it uses a portion of recordings for its “grading” process, but it is mentioned in the white paper.
-
Alamaliktistaad Magazines2 months ago
Al-iktisaad, November 24
-
OER Magazines1 month ago
OER Magazine: December 2024 Edition – The Most Trusted Brands in Oman
-
Energy2 months ago
Oman and Belgium Strengthen Green Hydrogen Partnership with New Landmark Agreement
-
Energy2 months ago
OUTLOOK: Emerging Markets and Renewables – The Twin Engines of Energy Growth for 2025
-
Technology1 month ago
EXCLUSIVE: Technological Singularity – Will It Become Humanity’s Greatest Leap or Its Most Perilous Step?
-
Magazines2 months ago
OER Magazine: November 2024 Edition
-
Oman2 months ago
Oman Braces for Launch of First Experimental Rocket Duqm-1 on 4 December 2024
-
Oman2 months ago
Transport Ministry Issues New Regulation for Security of Ships, Ports
You must be logged in to post a comment Login