France opens criminal probe into Apple over Siri recordings

Paris prosecutors have opened a formal criminal investigation into Apple over allegations that Siri voice recordings were collected and reviewed without proper consent. The probe was launched after a complaint by human rights groups and whistleblower testimony from a former Apple subcontractor.

Key points

• Paris prosecutor’s office initiated a criminal probe handled by France’s cybercrime unit.
• The investigation follows allegations that sensitive Siri interactions were analyzed without users’ consent, based on whistleblower reports.
• Some reports referenced a $92 million payment by Apple related to privacy issues; however, that specific payment has not been confirmed by major outlets covering the probe.

Timeline & background

• February 2025 — Complaints and media reports began alleging that Siri recordings were reviewed by contractors.
• October 2025 — The Paris prosecutor’s office opened a formal criminal investigation after new complaints and whistleblower statements.

Sources & further reading

• AppleInsider — detailed report on the probe
• Times of India — coverage of the investigation
• The Tech Portal — background on the complaint
• Le Monde — earlier complaint reporting

If you rely on Siri, this probe raises questions about how voice data is handled. We’ll update this post as the investigation develops. Share your thoughts in the comments below.