Apple stops using contractors to listen to Siri recordings

Apple said it's suspending its practice of allowing contractors to listen to conversations recorded by its Siri voice assistant. A recent newspaper report revealed that quality-checking contractors often heard confidential or private information including medical information or drug deals. While Apple said it was reviewing its quality control program, it it not stopping the recording. But, it said would join Amazon in allowing users to opt out of the program. Google also records people using its voice assistant but allows its users to delete the recordings.

Class discussion: Are you surprised that Apple, Google and Amazon are recording people using their voice assistants? How often are those voice assistants accidentally activated by background conversations or television programs? Why should users have to go to the trouble to “opt out” the programs or erase recordings of their private conversations? Should the tech companies be required to get users’ permission before recording their interactions with the voice assistants? Do you feel everything you do is being monitored? Could hackers grab this information?