Amid controversies surrounding the iPhone’s ability to eavesdrop on conversations of its owners, a report has revealed how users can prevent the Apple-owned smartphone from listening to them.
According to a recent 404 Media report, marketing firms can truly listen to phones in order to show you advertisements. According to 404 Media, the companies “has the capability to listen to ambient conversations of consumers through embedded microphones in smartphones, smart TVs, and other devices to gather data and use it to target ads.”
According to 404 Media, the feature, known as “Active Listening,” may recognize possible clients “based on casual conversations in real-time.”
However, Apple denied the accusations that iPhones are capable of listening, stating that applications require your express authorization in order to record and save your data.
“Apps must request explicit user consent and provide a clear visual and/or audible indication when recording, logging, or otherwise making a record of user activity. Data collected and stored must be made aware to the user, can be retracted at any time, and must be in line with current GDPR regulations,” It said.
How To Know If Your iPhone Is Listening And How To Stop It
1. Switch the microphone: It is important to note that when your microphone is in use, an orange dot will appear in the upper right corner of your iPhone. If this dot is lit when you are not speaking to someone, there may be a problem.
2. Cancel app permissions: with iOS 14, Apple introduced the App Tracking Transparency feature, which mandates that apps ask for your express consent before tracking you across other apps and services through a pop-up window. You may stop applications from utilizing your data to target you with ads by choosing to say no. You may verify which apps have access to the microphone on your iPhone by going to Settings > Privacy & Security. Moreover, you can select Tracking and disable “Allow Apps to Request to Track.”
3. Disable tracking: you may examine and disable any tracking that may be enabled on your iPhone by going to Settings > Privacy & Security. Moreover, you can select Tracking and disable “Allow Apps to Request to Track.”
4. If you want to be extra cautious, you may turn off Apple’s voice assistant Siri by navigating to Settings > Siri & Search > and selecting the option to “Listen for Siri.”
5. Apple’s App Privacy Report, found under Privacy & Security, is another helpful resource that lists the iPhone apps that can access your camera, microphone, or photographs. Then, if you’d like, you can modify those permissions.
