NEWSApple added that users will have the ability to
choose whether they want to participate in the
programme as part of an upcoming software update.
The Siri grading process was exposed in July
when one of the contractors contacted The Guardian
claiming that they “regularly hear confidential medical
information, drug deals, and recordings of couples
having sex” as part of their job. Apple explained
to The Guardian that the data collected “is used to
help Siri and dictation... understand you better and
recognize what you say”.
Apple also said the recordings are anonymized
and represent less than 1 percent of daily Siri
activations. It added that recordings were “not
associated with the user’s Apple ID”, though the
employee said they “are accompanied by user data
showing location, contact details, and app data”.
According to the ‘whistle-blower’, recordings
routinely contain snippets of conversations recorded
by accidental triggers of the “Hey Siri” wake word.
It’s unclear whether these recordings are supposed to
be deleted before they reached the employee’s ears.
It’s also unknown how long Apple has been running
the grading programme.
But while the practice might be necessary,
the seeming secrecy of it is alarming. Nowhere in
Apple’s privacy policy or Siri setup is it mentioned
that recordings may be used for quality control,
nor is there a toggle that lets you opt out of data
collection. According to the statement, Apple will
presumably be rectifying both of these issues once
it reinstates the programme.NEWS
Apple added that users will have the ability to
choosewhethertheywanttoparticipateinthe
programmeaspartofanupcomingsoftwareupdate.
TheSirigradingprocesswasexposedinJuly
whenoneofthecontractorscontactedTheGuardian
claimingthatthey“regularlyhearconfidentialmedical
information,drugdeals,andrecordingsofcouples
havingsex”aspartoftheirjob.Appleexplained
to The Guardian that the data collected “is used to
helpSirianddictation...understandyoubetterand
recognizewhatyousay”.
Apple alsosaidtherecordingsareanonymized
and representlessthan 1 percentofdailySiri
activations.Itaddedthatrecordingswere“not
associatedwiththeuser’sAppleID”,thoughthe
employeesaidthey“areaccompaniedbyuserdata
showinglocation,contactdetails,andappdata”.
Accordingtothe‘whistle-blower’,recordings
routinelycontainsnippetsofconversationsrecorded
byaccidentaltriggersofthe“HeySiri”wakeword.
It’s unclearwhethertheserecordingsaresupposedto
bedeletedbeforetheyreachedtheemployee’sears.
It’salsounknownhowlongApplehasbeenrunning
the gradingprogramme.
Butwhilethepracticemightbenecessary,
theseemingsecrecyofitisalarming.Nowherein
Apple’sprivacypolicyorSirisetupisit mentioned
thatrecordingsmaybeusedforqualitycontrol,
noristhereatogglethatletsyouoptoutofdata
collection.Accordingtothestatement,Applewill
presumablyberectifyingbothoftheseissuesonce
it reinstatestheprogramme.