French Authorities Investigate Apple Over Siri Unauthorized User Recordings
French prosecutors opened a criminal investigation into Apple on October 6, 2025, after receiving a complaint that the company collected and analyzed Siri voice recordings without users' explicit consent. A former Apple subcontractor filed the complaint through the French human rights organization Ligue des Droits de l'Homme.
What happened
French prosecutors opened a criminal investigation into Apple on October 6, 2025, following a complaint filed by the human rights organization Ligue des Droits de l'Homme. The complaint accused Apple of collecting, recording and analysing Siri conversations without users' consent.
Tech researcher Thomas Le Bonniec, a former Apple subcontractor in Ireland, filed the complaint and told Reuters he had publicly discussed analysing sensitive user recordings, including conversations from cancer patients.
Reported impact
The investigation centers on Apple's practice of collecting and retaining user voice recordings through Siri, allegedly without explicit user knowledge or consent.
Index analysis
Apple stated that Siri recordings are retained only when users explicitly opt in to help improve Siri, and that recordings are reviewed by subcontractors hired by the company for up to two years. Apple further stated that conversations with Siri are never shared with marketers or sold to advertisers.
Apple tightened Siri privacy controls in 2019 and again in 2025.
Governance controls
The Paris prosecutor's office referred the case to a police force specialised in cybercrime without providing further details.
Classification
Sources and evidence
This record was researched and written by the Index, based on the following original reporting.