By Harish Kumar GS, Head of Sales, India and SAARC, Check Point Software Technologies
I am sure you have wondered, heard or sometimes even felt, whether your iPhone is listening to you? It can sometimes be distressing to consider if you’re continually being overheard by an invisible third-party and not know who that is.
Last year in Q2, 2023, India became Apple’s fifth-largest iPhone market, surpassing Germany and France in sales. Apple’s CEO, Tim Cook also shared how he views India as a crucial future market, and the company is intensifying distribution and marketing efforts. According to Counterpoint Research, India contributed nearly 4% to overall iPhone sales in the second quarter, with a 50% YoY growth. Apple’s market share in India’s smartphone market rose to 5.1% from 3.4% in the same period last year. This growth coincides with Apple’s increased focus on retail and manufacturing in India, highlighted by the opening of its first physical stores in Delhi and Mumbai in April.
But let’s come back to the real question- Is your iPhone snooping on you? That is the $64,000 question.
It’s true that your iPhone might be passively listening, but perhaps not in the lawless, intrusive ways that you might imagine. Apple does not sell data to third-parties for marketing purposes. The company has explicitly stated that:
“The customer is not our product and our business model does not depend on collecting vast amounts of personally identifiable information…,” in response to a 2018 U.S. congressional inquiry.
If that’s the case, why are iPhones listening?
One of the primary reasons as to why iPhone listening occurs is to detect voice commands, like “Hey Siri”.
While highly unlikely due to Apple’s rules and compliance processes, apps could also be “listening”.
When it comes to advertising, the term “listening” really refers to the use of sophisticated machine learning algorithms, which parse apart language to find ad targeting opportunities.
It’s probably not a coincidence if you’ve had a conversation about buying a new car, and shortly thereafter, corresponding advertisements appear.
Note: This isn’t at all common to iPhones, unless they’ve been jailbroken, and typically only occurs on other device types.
What about Siri?
Siri continuously “listens” for the specific “Hey Siri” cue (and for a small number of similar sounds indicating that a person may have attempted to say “Hey Siri”).
Once a person has said “Hey Siri,” the information is largely processed locally; a somewhat recent departure from the past configuration, where information was processed on Apple’s servers.
Is the iPhone listening illegally?
For iPhones, third-party apps are required to obtain explicit user consent when collecting microphone data. At the outset, Apple reviews apps to ensure that they’re compliant.
All apps must go through the Apple Review Process for privacy compliance ahead of being green-lighted for the app store. That said, the process doesn’t guarantee that app developers can’t misbehave at a later point in time.
In other words, in regards to apps, Apple does its best to ensure that iPhones don’t eavesdrop. Accidents could theoretically occur, although the probabilities are slim and they would be clear violations of Apple’s rules.
Is iPhone listening a cause for concern?
Generally, no. If you’re concerned about iPhone listening, note that the newer generations of iPhones have an indicator at the top of the screen that shows when the mic and camera are on.
The light becomes orange when the mic is on. It turns green when the camera is on. This recently added privacy feature assists users in detecting when an app is accessing their device’s systems.
In exceptional circumstances, spyware could be deployed on a phone, resulting in listening. Typically, this only pertains to higher-profile individuals, uniquely targeted individuals, and/or to jailbroken phones.
iPhone listening privacy tips (2024)
If concerned about iPhone privacy, consider the tips below:
- Shut off the mic for Siri and for individual applications.
To switch off your iPhone’s microphone for Siri, go to Settings > Siri & Search. Then toggle off the following:
- Listen for ‘Hey Siri’
- Press side button for Siri
- Allow Siri when locked
To review permissions and turn off the mic for individual applications, navigate to Settings and then click on individual apps. If you don’t want the mic for that app to remain on, simply toggle the switch.
- Consider use of a VPN, which will make your device less vulnerable to threats by providing an encrypted, private connection. Do your research and find a reputable VPN provider. Avoid VPN providers who sell your contact information to advertisers. Carefully read through a VPN provider’s privacy policy ahead of agreeing to use their service.
- Opt for a comprehensive solution which uses enterprise-grade technology to protect individuals’ phones and tablets from all kinds of cyber threats.
The question of privacy in the digital age continues to be asked, as concerns persist amongst users about the extent of data collection and the potential for covert surveillance. As we have advised, it is vital for users to stay informed, remain vigilant about your digital footprint and advocate for transparent data practices to safeguard our privacy rights in this new digitally connected world.
