Apple announces changes to its Siri audio clip review process, making it opt-in for users, bringing the work in-house, and saying it won't retain recordings
The top line news is that Apple is making changes to the way that Siri audio review, or ‘grading’ works across all of its devices.
TechCrunch Matthew Panzarino
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Discussion
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@tim
Tim Bradshaw
on x
This Siri privacy thing does feel like the most full-throated apology Apple has made since the Maps debacle back in 2012 (unlike the somewhat passive aggressive apologies for things like Mac keyboards and iPhone battery issues) https://www.ft.com/...
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@panzer
Matthew Panzarino
on x
Apple is making significant changes to the way Siri grading works and, most importantly, it is turning it OFF by default, making it an opt-in process. https://techcrunch.com/...
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@disconnectme
Disconnect
on x
So Apple fired the contractors it paid to listen to your private conversations Siri recorded without your knowledge. But what about the executives who okayed these practices in the first place? https://www.theguardian.com/ ...
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@nthylstrup
Nanna Thylstrup
on x
“I'm relieved this information came out,” said one former contractor who asked to remain anonymous due to a still-active non-disclosure agreement, “Discussions around ethics in this job was a constant between workers, but we don't know how to bring it up.” https://www.theguardian…
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@backlon
Dieter Bohn
on x
Apple was the only assistant company that didn't offer opt-outs for voice recordings. Bad. Now it has apologized and me opt-out the default, jumping ahead of Alexa and Google. Good: https://www.theverge.com/...
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@alexhern
Alex Hern
on x
But it remains super frustrating to see this briefed out under embargo to other outlets, while Apple didn't even do us the courtesy of sending a note to let us know it had gone live. If they're so sorry about their mistake, why is the Guardian being punished for revealing it?
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@can
Can Duruk
on x
“Privacy Fundamentalism” as a slander will not age well. https://twitter.com/...
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@file511
@file511
on x
“...people listening to audio Siri recordings as part of our Siri quality evaluation process. We heard their concerns, immediately suspended human grading of Siri requests, and began a thorough review of our practices and policies.” https://support.apple.com/...
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@marcoarment
Marco Arment
on x
Apple's Siri-grading changes are good, but I'd like to see them go a bit further. Saving audio should be opt-in, and is. 👍 But saving transcripts is still mandatory if you want to use Siri at all. On-by-default is fine, but it should have an opt-out. https://www.apple.com/... htt…
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@stevekovach
Steve Kovach
on x
Guardian reports the contractors who were listening to and grading Siri recordings have been fired https://www.theguardian.com/ ... https://twitter.com/...
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@neilcybart
Neil Cybart
on x
Apple apologizes for shortcomings in Siri's privacy protection. Three changes: 1) Audio recordings of Siri interactions won't be retained. 2) Users have to opt-in to have Siri recordings sampled. 3) Apple will no longer use contractors for process. https://www.apple.com/...156700…
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@neilcybart
Neil Cybart
on x
In a nutshell, Apple will once again use humans to listen to a sampling of Siri recordings (in an effort to improve Siri). However, users have to opt-in and Apple employees will be the ones listening.
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@backlon
Dieter Bohn
on x
assistant company that didn't offer opt-outs for voice recordings. Bad. Now it has apologized and made opt-out the default, jumping ahead of Alexa and Google. Good: https://www.theverge.com/...
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@acedtect
Tom Merritt
on x
Apple making Siri recording review opt in, excellent. Going the extra mile to take on liability for employees by bringing them in house, exemplary. Two good moves. https://techcrunch.com/...