Sn3ll

Photo by Jeffrey Buchbinder on Unsplash

The age-old conspiracy theory that technology giants like Apple, Facebook, and Google are listening in on our conversations and selling our personal data to advertisers has resurfaced once again. This time, it’s Apple’s turn to face the music as the company refutes rumors that it lets advertisers target users based on Siri recordings. In a statement published Wednesday evening, Apple described how Siri works and what it does with data, assuring users that their conversations are kept private.

The Dark Side of Siri: Separating Fact from Fiction

The rumors resurfaced last week after Apple agreed to pay $95 million to settle a lawsuit over users whose conversations were captured by its Siri voice assistant and potentially overheard by human employees. While the settlement addresses an issue that was first reported in 2019, it doesn’t include any reference to selling data for marketing purposes. However, reports about the settlement noted that some of the plaintiffs claimed that after they mentioned brand names like “Olive Garden” or “Air Jordans,” they were served ads for corresponding products, which they attributed to Siri data.

• The Verge reported in 2019 that human contractors tasked with reviewing anonymized recordings and grading whether the trigger was activated intentionally would sometimes receive recordings of people discussing sensitive information.
• Apple apologized and changed its policy after The Guardian’s report, making the default setting not to retain audio recordings from Siri interactions.

So, if Apple is telling the truth, then why would you see an ad later for something you only talked about? There are other explanations and attempts to check the rumors out include investigations in 2018 that didn’t find evidence of microphone spying but did discover that some apps secretly recorded on-screen user activity that they shipped to third parties.

The Reality of Ad Targeting

Ad targeting networks also track data from people logged onto the same network or who have spent time in the same locations. They can buy data from brokers who collect reams of detailed location tracking and other info from the apps on your phone, and both Google and Facebook pull in data from other companies to build out profiles based on your purchasing habits and other information.

• Google pulls in data from other companies to build out profiles based on your purchasing habits and other information.
• Facebook also collects data from other sources, including credit card transactions and browsing history, to target ads more effectively.

The reality is that technology giants like Apple, Facebook, and Google are constantly gathering data on our behavior, both online and offline. While this data can be used to create targeted advertising, it also raises concerns about privacy and the potential for manipulation. As consumers, we need to be aware of how our personal data is being used and take steps to protect ourselves.

Photo by Charle$ on Unsplash

Protecting Your Personal Data

There are several ways you can protect your personal data from being used for targeted advertising. First, be mindful of the apps and websites you use, and avoid sharing too much information. Second, review the permissions you grant to apps on your phone or computer, and limit their access to sensitive information. Finally, consider using a VPN (Virtual Private Network) when browsing online to mask your IP address and location.

• Be mindful of the apps and websites you use, and avoid sharing too much information.
• Review the permissions you grant to apps on your phone or computer, and limit their access to sensitive information.
• Consider using a VPN (Virtual Private Network) when browsing online to mask your IP address and location.

In conclusion, while Apple’s statement is reassuring, it’s essential to remember that technology giants like Apple, Facebook, and Google are constantly gathering data on our behavior. By being aware of how our personal data is being used and taking steps to protect ourselves, we can maintain control over our online experience and reduce the risk of manipulation.