Apple Under French Investigation Over Siri Data Practices

The inquiry centers on Apple’s handling of user audio data collected through Siri, which is available on the company’s devices. Apple has acknowledged that some interactions with Siri can be recorded and stored to enhance the assistant’s performance. The company says that participation in this program is voluntary and that users must opt in. As reported by Bloomberg, Apple retains certain voice samples for up to two years, which may be reviewed by external contractors known as “graders.”

The probe reportedly follows a complaint filed earlier this year by the Ligue des droits de l’Homme, a French human rights group. According to Bloomberg, the complaint is based on information provided by Thomas le Bonniec, a former Apple subcontractor in Ireland who has previously described reviewing sensitive user audio clips, including private conversations and medical discussions.

Read more: Britain Orders Apple to Create Cloud Access for UK Data

Apple, when contacted for comment, pointed to a blog post it published in January explaining its data practices. The company reiterated in that post that it “does not retain audio recordings of Siri interactions unless users explicitly opt in to help improve Siri, and even then, the recordings are used solely for that purpose.”

France has taken an assertive stance toward major U.S. technology companies in recent years. The country has launched several investigations into alleged antitrust practices and imposed a digital services tax that has drawn criticism from Washington. As Bloomberg notes, the Apple probe is the latest example of France’s heightened scrutiny of Big Tech operations within its borders.

Source: Bloomberg