Apple’s Siri AI Delay in Europe: What It Means for Your Privacy
On June 9, 2026, EU regulators rejected Apple’s request for an exemption from the Digital Markets Act (DMA) that would have allowed the company to keep Siri’s future AI features closed to third-party services. The decision has direct consequences for Apple users in Europe—and raises broader questions about how voice data is handled when AI assistants become more powerful.
This article explains what happened, why it matters for your privacy, and what you can do now to manage your Siri data.
What happened
Under the DMA, “gatekeeper” platforms—large tech companies with dominant market positions—must allow interoperability with competing services. Apple wanted an exemption for Siri, arguing that opening the assistant to rivals would compromise user privacy and security. The EU disagreed, saying the rules exist precisely to prevent dominant players from locking users into their ecosystem.
Reuters reported the decision on June 9, citing EU officials. The same day, the EU also ordered Meta to open WhatsApp to rival AI chatbots for free, signalling a broader push for interoperability among digital assistants and messaging platforms.
Why it matters for users
The immediate effect is that Apple cannot launch certain AI-enhanced Siri features in the EU that rely on tighter integration with Apple’s own services unless it also opens those capabilities to competitors. That likely means delays for features like deeper contextual understanding, third-party app control, or server-side processing that Apple may have planned for later this year.
But the bigger story is about your voice data. Siri already processes audio snippets on your device for many requests, but more advanced AI features often require sending voice data to Apple’s servers. Under the DMA, if Apple’s Siri AI becomes more capable, it will have to allow alternative assistants (like Google Assistant, Alexa, or third-party chatbots) to request access to the same hardware and system-level triggers. That could mean more data flowing to more companies—unless users actively control permissions.
Apple has consistently argued that keeping Siri’s ecosystem closed protects privacy because it limits data exposure. The EU’s counterargument is that users should have the freedom to choose which assistant handles their requests, and that competition forces all companies to improve privacy practices.
What you can do now
You don’t have to wait for Apple or regulators to protect your voice data. Here are concrete steps you can take today:
Review Siri & Search settings
On your iPhone or iPad, go to Settings > Siri & Search and disable “Listen for ‘Hey Siri’” if you rarely use voice activation. You can also turn off “Press Side Button for Siri” if you prefer manual searches.Limit Siri data sharing with apps
Still in Siri & Search settings, scroll down to see which apps have requested permission to use Siri. Remove access for apps that don’t need it. Each app listed there can request Siri data tied to your interactions.Delete Siri and dictation history
Go to Settings > Privacy & Security > Analytics & Improvements. Toggle off “Improve Siri & Dictation” if you don’t want audio samples used for product improvement. You can also delete your Siri history entirely by going to Settings > Siri & Search > Siri History and tapping “Delete Siri & Dictation History.”Check iCloud sync settings
If you use Siri on multiple devices, your voice data may sync via iCloud. Go to Settings > [your name] > iCloud > Show All and ensure “Siri” is toggled off unless you want cross-device optimization.Stay informed about DMA compliance
Apple may eventually release AI features with opt-in data sharing notifications. When prompted, read the request carefully. If you’re in the EU, you may also see new consent screens for third-party assistants in future iOS updates—these are a result of the DMA.
The bottom line
The EU’s rejection of Apple’s exemption request doesn’t change Siri’s privacy stance overnight, but it sets the stage for a more open—and potentially more data-intensive—assistant ecosystem. Whether that’s good or bad for privacy depends on how much control users retain. The best approach is to treat Siri data like any other sensitive information: limit how much you share, review permissions regularly, and only enable features that clearly explain what data they collect and why.
Sources
- Reuters: “No tech rule exemption for Apple, EU regulators say amid spat over Siri AI delay” (June 9, 2026)
- Yahoo Finance: “EU orders Meta to open WhatsApp to rival AI chatbots for free” (June 9, 2026)