Big tech corporations that have cleverly found their way into even the most intimate parts of our lives are constantly reassuring us that they are not spying on us using their smart devices as proxies. Well, a UK parliamentary session was interrupted by Siri springing to life from someone’s iPhone. I think that’s a pretty big deal, and the situation could easily turn into a national security concern.
UK’s Defense Secretary Gavin Williamson was addressing the UK parliament on matters, fight against the Islamic State. In his speech, he happened to mention Syria, and immediately Siri sprang into action from his iPhone.
The Apple digital assistant was triggered into action by the mentioning of the word Syria, confusing it with Siri, the voice command one would use to summon the digital assistant. Williamson had to stop his address for a while to put Siri in check; probably by shutting down his iPhone.
“It is very rare that you’re heckled by your own mobile phone,” said Williamson after putting back his iPhone into his pocket.
According to the BBC, Williamson later said that he does not have the habit of carrying his phone into the parliamentary meetings, so he did not think that Siri poses a serious threat to the national security.