Apple under criminal investigation in France for Siri voice recordings
Apple is currently facing a criminal investigation in France concerning the collection and use of voice recordings made through its voice assistant Siri.
The Paris prosecutor’s office confirmed on October 6, 2025, that it has opened a procedure and assigned the case to the Cybercrime Division (OCLCTIC).
Siri: A Complaint Related to User Privacy
The investigation follows a complaint filed earlier this year by the Human Rights League (LDH). The organization accuses Apple of collecting and processing voice data without prior user consent.
The complaint is supported by the testimony of Thomas Le Bonniec, a former contractor for Apple through Globe Technical Services in Ireland, who revealed as early as 2019 that he had access to thousands of Siri recordings, some of which contained private conversations and sensitive information.
According to Le Bonniec, some voices were identifiable, and the recordings sometimes included intimate details captured without the users’ knowledge.
He had previously alerted European data protection authorities, such as CNIL in France and the Data Protection Commission in Ireland, without any investigation being launched at that time.
Apple Defends Itself and Invokes Respect for Consent
Apple has chosen not to comment directly on this new case but referred to a blog post published earlier this year.
In this post, the Cupertino-based company asserts that:
- No Siri recordings are retained without explicit user consent;
- Voice data is used solely to improve Siri’s performance;
- They are neither sold nor shared for advertising purposes.
Apple also notes that it has strengthened its privacy measures in 2019 following the initial revelations from Le Bonniec, and again in 2025.
A Collective Action Already Underway
The complaint has also led to the launch of a collective action in France against Apple. This legal action is part of an international context: in the United States, a similar lawsuit was resolved in 2024 through a $95 million settlement, without Apple admitting any wrongdoing.
This case could reignite the debate on data protection generated by voice assistants, often seen as “always listening” tools.
The Paris prosecutor’s investigation will determine whether Apple violated the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) by collecting recordings without clear consent or legal basis.
If the allegations are confirmed, the company could face substantial financial penalties in Europe, where regulators are increasingly stringent regarding privacy and artificial intelligence issues.
