Apple’s new watches are always listening

Apple's latest watch models come with features that can listen to ambient sounds and transcribe snippets of conversations. The company claims these features are encrypted and cannot be read by Apple itself, but privacy experts are concerned about the potential for privacy violations. Apple's new features may violate privacy laws and unspoken social conventions about speech, which prioritize the expectation that information should be shared according to the norms of the setting in which it is shared.

Even though Apple markets these features as "opt-in," only the person wearing the Apple Watch has the choice, and nobody else in the room has a say. This raises concerns about the use of such devices in settings where confidentiality is expected, such as in personal, commercial, or legal matters. Apple's new features may also lead to the introduction of new technologies, such as Meta's video-recording smart glasses, which have already faced criticism for violating privacy norms.

Apple's privacy policy and software experience are generally considered better than others, but the company's decision to introduce always-on listening features in its watches remains controversial.