How private can Apple’s new Siri really be?

Apple’s upgraded Siri promises to take on more complex digital tasks. 

From planning events to searching messages, Siri’s newest upgrade comes with deeper access to users’ personal data. 

To protect user privacy, Apple says customers can request that Siri stay private, and that their data will not be retained after processing. Additionally, outside researchers can inspect the system.

University of Michigan School of Information associate professor Florian Schaub, an expert on digital privacy, says Apple’s openness to outside scrutiny is a positive step. 

“Consumers often lack the expertise to inspect code,” he says. But by publishing specifications and letting researchers and regulators examine its systems, Apple “at least facilitates external validation of their claims.” 

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Read “Apple’s new Siri can run your digital life. The catch is privacy” on Scientific American. 

Learn more about Florian Schaub’s research on privacy and user data by visiting his UMSI faculty profile.