Have you ever asked Siri a silly question when noone was around? Perhaps asked Siri if they would like to get married in the private of your own home, thinking nobody could hear? Well, while you would be correct in thinking nobody could directly hear you, what you may not know is that Apple store all the questions you ask Siri for 2 years.
In the few seconds it takes for Siri to reply after you ask it a question, the message is sent to Apple’s North Carolina data centre where it is processed and a reply generated. But to improve the answer Siri generates, together with Apple collecting all sorts of statistics, that question is stored on Apples’ servers for 2 years.
The first time you use Siri, its database assigns you a random number, which it says isn’t connected to your user ID or email address. After six months, that number is deleted from that recording, but the file itself remains for another 18 months.
The question comes after a lawyer questioned Siri’s FAQ which does not detail this information, and argued that Apple should update the privacy policy to demonstrate exactly what happens to those questions.
Pulled directly from the FAQ, there is even a question entitled “What happens when I ask Siri a question?”
When you finish speaking, Siri displays the text of what you said and provides a response. If Siri needs more information to complete a request, it will ask you a question. For example, if you say “Remind me to call my mom,” Siri will ask “What time would you like me to remind you?”
When you use earphones or a headset, Siri reads back text messages and email messages that you’ve dictated before you send them, and it reads back the subjects of reminders before you create them. This is especially helpful when you’re driving and can’t see the screen.
The section mentions nothing about those messages being stored, leaving a consumers privacy something to be debated.
So next time you ask Siri a question, be aware that the question is not a one-off, it can be used for all sorts of diagnostics, statistics, and improvements, but can be recalled on for 2 years!