Apple Inc. (NASDAQ:AAPL) has finally revealed just how long Siri stores users’ questions, messages and demands. According to Wired, Siri stores them for up to two years.
The online publication pointed out a lack of information in the privacy policy for Siri. A spokesperson for Apple Inc. (NASDAQ:AAPL) then called to explain the policy. Privacy advocates have been clamoring for this information for some time, and this is the first time the company has revealed just how long Siri data is stored on its servers.
The way Siri works is simple. Anything users say to Siri is sent to Apple where it is analyzed. Apple Inc. (NASDAQ:AAPL) assigns users a number at random and uses that number in connection with the voice files you send. That number is stored on Apple’s server.
Users who don’t use Siri for six months or who turn Siri off are disconnected from the number originally assigned to them. The data however, stays on Apple Inc. (NASDAQ:AAPL)’s servers for 18 or more months so that Apple can use them for the purposes of testing and improving products.
The Apple spokesperson said that Apple Inc. (NASDAQ:AAPL) ensures the voice files are only used for the Siri project. However, a lawyer for the American Civil Liberties Union said users should still be careful about what they say to the feature because comments could reveal sensitive information about their family, business or them.
The ACLU said it would be a good idea for Apple Inc. (NASDAQ:AAPL) to link Siri’s privacy policy to its FAQ page so that it’s easy for consumers to see what will happen to their voice data before they purchase an Apple product.
