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.
-
OER Magazines1 month ago
OER, September 2024
-
Alamaliktistaad Magazines2 months ago
Al-iktisaad, September 24
-
Uncategorized4 weeks ago
Oman Oil Marketing Company partners with Ihsaan Association to support its activities
-
Commodities1 month ago
Gold Rangebound as Investors Brace for Key US Economic Data
-
Banking & Finance1 month ago
Apple Pay Officially Launched in Oman
-
Oil & Gas4 weeks ago
OQEP Appoints United Securities as Liquidity Provider Ahead of Landmark MSX Listing
-
Investment1 month ago
With Over RO600M in Foreign Investments, Future Fund Oman Unveils the First Batch of Investment Projects with an Overall Value of RO830M+
-
Lifestyle1 month ago
Royal Opera House Muscat Welcomes First Shows of its 2024/25 Season
You must be logged in to post a comment Login