Siri’s Voice Recording Retention Policies Put Apple in Legal Trouble in France

In 2025, Apple has once again found itself at odds with French regulators, this time due to concerns surrounding the retention of voice recordings by its digital assistant, Siri. This controversy has escalated to the point where the Paris prosecutor’s office has initiated a formal investigation into the matter.

The investigation stems from a complaint filed earlier in 2025 by Ligue des droits de l’Homme, a human rights organization. This complaint was fueled by revelations from Thomas le Bonniec, a former subcontractor for Apple based in Cork. He claimed that his role required him to review user recordings made by Siri, including alarming cases such as those involving a suspected pedophile.

In response to these allegations, Apple had previously issued a blog post in January, delineating its commitment to user privacy. The tech giant asserted that it has “never used Siri data to build marketing profiles, never made it available for advertising, and never sold it to anyone for any purpose.”This statement aimed to reassure users regarding the handling of their data.

Apple further emphasized various measures it implements to safeguard user privacy regarding Siri’s voice recordings:

Siri prioritizes on-device processing wherever feasible.
On capable devices, user request audio is processed entirely on the device using the Neural Engine unless the user opts to share it with Apple.
When data needs to be processed off-device, Siri utilizes a random identifier—a unique string of letters and numbers tied to a single device.
Audio recordings of Siri interactions are retained only if users consent to assist in enhancing Siri; otherwise, they are discarded.
Users have the option to easily opt out of Siri’s voice recording retention practices.

France’s Rigorous Approach Toward US Tech Giants, Including Apple

In 2025, France has made several moves against major US tech companies, reinforcing its position as a vigilant regulator:

In March 2025, the French Competition Authority (FCA) imposed a €150 million fine on Apple for abusing its dominant position in the iOS mobile applications market.
Additionally, France continues to enforce a 3 percent digital tax on revenues generated by major digital corporations, primarily targeting large US tech firms, from online advertising, user data exchanges, and digital intermediary services.

It is also noteworthy that in light of these digital tax initiatives, former President Trump threatened to impose higher tariffs on France as a retaliatory measure.

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