IBM Bans Siri Over Data Privacy Fears

IBM employees may be delighted to learn that they can use their shiny new iPhone 4S on the company’s internal networks, but will soon be disappointed once they find out that the use of Siri has been banned.

The iPhone’s voice-recognition software has been banned by IBM over concerns about what data is being submitted to Apple, what happens to it, and who is looking at it.

IBM Spoilsports

Apple’s user agreement states that everything said to Siri is recorded and sent to Apple in order to convert it into text. It also says that by using the application, the user is consenting to the transmission, collection, maintenance, processing and used of this data, while Siri also collects information such as address book data to help it function.

IBM CIO Jeanette Horan has confirmed that the company is concerned about where the data is stored, and given that Siri can be used to write emails and text messages, it is possible that Apple could be storing confidential IBM messages.

Siri uses a significant amount of data, meaning that it was always likely to raise a few eyebrows, but companies such as IBM shouldn’t worry too much if its employees are asking for smartphone advice or have strong accents, as it notoriously struggles to understand them.

There is nothing to stop IBM workers from using Siri on their mobile network however, and if they really are desperate to use a voice activated personal assistant on their iPhone, they could always use British rival Evi.

How closely have you been following the evolution of the iPhone? Find out with our quiz!