Skip to main content

Siri is a secret spy! It reports your dirty questions back to Apple

Siri
Image used with permission by copyright holder

Remember that time you thought it would be funny to pick up your iPhone, hit up Siri, and ask her a strain of dirty questions, just to see what she would say? You do? Well so does Apple, or so it seems.

According to a report from Wired, Apple keeps each and every single Siri interaction you — and every other iOS user — have had with the virtual helper.

But before you start freaking out about your recent series of escort requests, you should know that Apple says that it does not, in fact, store contact information associated with these requests. In other words, it knows that someone was in search of an adult escort, but doesn’t know who that someone was (it certainly wasn’t me!).

Phew!

Here’s how the data retention works. You make a request to Siri. That information is shipped over to Apple, but instead of storing it via your actual phone number, you’re given a different unique number, one that is not related to any of your Apple accounts. Your voice is then associated with that number. Future Siri requests come in, but the software is so sophisticated that it can identify your voice, and then sync you up with that same unique number. But, after six months, that Siri request is no longer associated with the number.

It likely stores all of this information to continually improve the information Siri returns. (Maybe it will actually up the joke ante, which would make Siri a whole lot more fun.) But regardless, at the end of the day, you really should be careful about what you ask Siri and how you interact. Even if this is supposedly anonymous data, remember: there are usually ways to find out who is behind the message.

Editors' Recommendations

Joshua Pramis
Former Digital Trends Contributor
Spending a childhood engrossed in such technologically inspiring television shows like Voltron, Small Wonder, and Power…
When will Apple release iOS 18? Here’s what we know
An iPhone 14 laying face-down on a wood table.

Apple's annual Worldwide Developers Conference (WWDC) will start on Monday, June 10. During the conference keynote, the company is expected to unveil new software updates for its major products, including iOS 18 for iPhones.

iOS 18 is expected to be a major iPhone update, likely ushering in a new design and AI features. If you are wondering when you can get your hands on the latest software version, here's everything you need to know about iOS 18's release date.
When will the iOS 18 beta be released?

Read more
Everything you need to know about the massive Apple App Store outage
App Store on-screen illustration

Happy Wednesday evening, everyone! You're unwinding for the day, getting ready for a relaxing night, and ... you realize that the App Store and a bunch of other Apple services aren't working. Don't worry, you aren't alone.

What Apple services are down? When did the problems start? Is the outage still ongoing? Here's everything you need to know.
When did the App Store outage start?
According to DownDetector, reports of outages with the App Store flooded in a little after 6 p.m. ET. Reports appear to have spiked at over 6,000, indicating pretty widespread problems.

Read more
The 7 biggest features we expect to see in iOS 18
The home screen on the Apple iPhone 15 Plus.

Apple revealed that its Worldwide Developers Conference (WWDC) will take place on June 10. This is when we expect to see the next iteration of software across all of Apple’s products, including iOS 18.

From the sounds of it, we’re in for a big update with iOS 18, rumored to be one of the “biggest updates” yet. Here’s what we expect from Apple's next major iPhone update with iOS 18.
A more customizable home screen

Read more