Siri is not always "watching" you in the sense of recording and storing everything you say, but it is continuously listening for its activation phrase ("Hey Siri" or "Siri") using a low-power, on-device processor.
Most likely, Siri doesn't listen to your conversations all the time. It starts recording your voice once it recognizes the “Hey Siri” trigger phrase. At the same time, there were incidents when Apple employees actually listened to private conversations of users that weren't meant to be recorded by Siri.
Android: To disable microphone access on Android devices, navigate to Settings > [select the app] > Permissions > Microphone > Select Don't allow.
Siri Uses On-Device Processing Where Possible
To protect user privacy, Siri is designed to do as much processing as possible right on a user's device, allowing for personalized experiences without having to transfer and analyze personal information on Apple servers.
How to tell which app is using your microphone
Use a Protective Case
They not only keep your phone safe in general but they may help protect your camera lens. You want to look for a case with a raised bezel, which essentially means that the case has a sort of ridge that surrounds the camera lens.
Unauthorized Access: A malicious individual could use Siri to make calls, send messages, or even access your personal data.
The short answer is yes: your phone is listening, primarily through built-in virtual assistants like Siri, Google Assistant, or Alexa. These tools are designed to detect voice commands, but they can also influence the types of ads you see based on what they hear.
Go to Settings > Siri & Search. Toggle off “Listen for 'Hey Siri'” to prevent passive listening. 2️⃣ Limit Data Sharing: In Siri & Search, scroll down and turn off “Improve Siri & Dictation” to stop Apple from storing your recordings.
Use Siri even when iPhone is covered or facing down: When you set up Siri, “Hey Siri” activates Siri only when your iPhone faces up. To change this, turn on Always Listen for “Hey Siri.” Learn how to use Siri. Require “Siri” or “Hey Siri” in order to interrupt Siri: Turn on Require “Siri” for Interruptions.
The short answer is: Siri is technically always listening, but it's not always recording. Siri works by listening for the trigger phrase “Hey Siri.” Once Siri hears the phrase, it will be activated and you'll be able to ask it a question or give it a command—for example, “Call Mom.”
Unusual sounds or echoes during calls
If you're noticing weird clicking sounds or high-pitched hums on multiple calls across different locations and with different people, it could be a sign that someone is eavesdropping or tracking your calls.
How to Disable Listening Features:
Just as most other voice assistants, Siri is essentially always on, through your iPhone microphone, listening for you to say “Hey Siri” so it can get activated. According to Apple privacy policy, although Siri is listening, it doesn't remember anything you say before it's activated by its voice command.
Check if Headphones are enabled under Announce Notifications. Also, go through the list of individual apps -some, like WhatsApp or Messages, may still have Siri announcements turned on. Lastly, make sure the Announce Notifications settings toggle in Control Centre is off to avoid multiple notifications.
On Android 12+, you may see a small green dot when the camera is being used (and some devices also show a camera icon). If you see this indicator when you're not using any camera-based apps, someone else might be accessing it. However, skilled hackers can use your camera without triggering the light.
You want to keep your home private. Anti-surveillance curtains or shades help with this. The best ones block sunlight and stop cameras from seeing in.