Apple halts Siri response program after privacy concern

Apple Inc said on Friday it suspended its global program where it analyzed recordings from users interacting with its voice assistant Siri after some privacy concerns were raised about the program.

Apple’s decision comes in the light of a report from in Guardian last week which said the company’s contractors around the globe tasked with reviewing the recordings regularly heard confidential information and private conversations.

“While we conduct a thorough review, we are suspending Siri grading globally,” an Apple spokeswoman said in a statement, adding that in a future software update, users will be able to opt-out of the program.

Siri, Apple’s iconic voice assistant, allows users to work their iPhone without using their hands and can send messages, make calls and open multiple applications with voice commands alone.