Apple revealed today that Siri remembers all the stuff you say to it and all of the information it gives back to you.
All of your questions, requests, attempts to get "her" to use profanity are saved on Apple servers for two years. Marking the first time Apple has said a word about how long they keep Siri data, Apple spokeswoman Trudy Muller contacted Wired to elaborate on the company’s privacy conditions.
“Our customers’ privacy is very important to us,” Muller said.
When you speak to Siri, your phone ships the recording of your voice to Apple’s data farm, where you are given a number. But not to worry, this number is not your Apple ID.
Six months later, that recording is “disassociated” from your number, and stored in Apple’s files for testing and potential product improvement for up to a year and a half.
But there is a way to get rid of it sooner.
“If a user turns Siri off, both identifiers are deleted immediately along with any associated data,” Muller said.
The reason that the issue of privacy came up with Siri is because American Civil Liberties Union lawyer Nicole Ozer called Apple out on its privacy policy.
Ozer wants Apple to put the information concerning Siri and privacy in its Siri FAQ.
“There is no good reason for Apple to not include information about privacy practices on their Siri FAQ page,” she said.
Ozer warns users of the transcripts Apple keeps of what you say to Siri.
“Siri works for Apple, so make a note to yourself to really think before you speak,” she added.
The Siri FAQ can be found in your Siri Settings on iPhone.
Ars Technica recently conducted a poll in which it asked if users would use Siri on OS X. That means you would be talking to your desktop or laptop.
In the poll, 36.3 percent of voters said that they use Siri on an iOS device but that it could be better. 27.5 voters said “No, speaking to my computer isn’t my thing” while 52 percent would at the very least try it.
You can turn Siri on and off by following Settings > General > Siri.
