Was Siri programmed to be homophobic in Russian?

The Telegraph ^ | 14 Apr 2015 | Tom Parfitt

[Freelance Warrior]

The new Russian-language version of iPhone's “personal assistant” has been accused of providing homophobic responses to questions about gays and lesbians.

One Russian man in London, Alex, posted a video on YouTube in which Siri responds in a woman's voice to his questions about gay marriages and whether they are “normal”, by saying, “Alex, you are so rude!”

Asked in Russian, “How do you register a gay marriage in England?” Siri replies on an iPad, “I will pretend I didn't hear that.”. The Russian LGBT site, www.lesbiru.com, noted that when told “Lesbianism is normal”, Siri came back saying, “There’s no need to speak like that.” Pavel Lokshin, a journalist, found that Siri replied, “Pavel, how rude you are!” when he asked about “Gay clubs around me”.

In a telephone interview, Alex, a political risks consultant, said that he was “shocked and appalled” by the “quite homophobic” responses. “I went to visit two gay friends and we decided to try Siri out with various questions about gays and lesbians,” he said. “It seemed to reply as if they were swear words.”

“I don’t know whether Apple did this itself or this is the work of a contractor but the result is the same,” he said. “This just shows that all the words about supporting diversity and equality are amended to the existing marketplace and in Russia they don’t want any association with being pro-gay, I would imagine.”

Apple did not respond to a request for comment on Tuesday afternoon. A spokesman told PinkNews it was "just a bug that's been fixed". Apple appeared to have fixed the problem on Monday evening, because the Russian-language version of Siri now gives lists from the internet when asked about nearby gay clubs. Previously, it responded by saying, “I would blush, if I could”.

[nickcarraway]

What does it say if you tell it you don’t like vodka?

[dayglored]

Oh, my. What will Tim Cook think of this?

[1rudeboy]

It gives GPS directions for Lubyanka.

[Freelance Warrior]

Oh, my. What will Tim Cook think of this?

Apple has fixed Siri. So, he already knows about this, I think.

[Swordmaker]

RUSSIAN SIRI reprogramed to be homophobic, claims a Russian in London with a YouTube video of Siri responding in Russian to question on Gay issues. Oh, my. What will Tim Cook think of this?

From the conclusion of the article:

"Pavel Lokshin, a journalist, found that Siri replied, “Pavel, how rude you are!” when he asked about “Gay clubs around me”.

Apple appeared to have fixed the problem on Monday evening, because the Russian-language version of Siri now gives lists from the internet when asked about nearby gay clubs. Previously, it responded by saying, “I would blush, if I could”.

Alex said: “I’m glad they fixed it but they kept it quiet. I think Apple should apologise.”

Amazing that they report this ONLY after no one can confirm that Siri says anything like this. . . it's fixed.

This smells to high-heaven like a FUD report. I have seen numerous spoofs of Siri supposedly saying things in YouTube skits that are not real responses from Siri but faked jokes. This has all the hallmarks of just such a spoof. Fixing Siri by changing Siri responses is not a quick change fix. . . and I think that someone has SPOOFED the answers is a more likely explanation than that Apple would have programed Siri to be a anti-homosexual, don't you, especially given the last few weeks notoriety of Apple's CEO. .

Apple Russian Siri Homophobic? Or FUD? Ping!

If you want on or off the Mac Ping List, Freepmail me.

[Swordmaker]

Apple has fixed Siri. So, he already knows about this, I think.

Here is an example of how easy it is to make Siri look like it says something that isn't in its repertoire:

Siri Spoof

[Freelance Warrior]

Fixing Siri by changing Siri responses is not a quick change fix.

Probably, the Russian words staying for "gay", "lesbian", "homosexual", etc. were in a kind of an obscene words' list. That Alex guessed they were. In this case "fixing" could have been just removing them from the list.

[sten]

for those that don’t understand the term ‘homophobic’...

‘homophobic’ was chosen as a passive aggressive attack against any resistance to the homo culture by men. the term ‘phobic’ means ‘to fear’, which no one does, but is meant to provoke a kneejerk reaction of ‘i’m not afraid of anything’ response in men.

the proper term for someone that is disgusted by or repelled by homosexuality would be ‘homomisia’

[Freelance Warrior]

the proper term for someone that is disgusted by or repelled by homosexuality would be ‘homomisia’

It is, but "phobia" is being commonly used in creating similar terms since old times, e.g. "judophobia".

[BenLurkin]

“Fixed” it?

When Siri turns Christo-phobic — there will be no “fix”.

[bolobaby]

No no... the simple, logical answer is not appropriate for Swordmaker. Instead, the article LIES because this may be construed negatively for Apple.

[HLPhat]

Would Siri be "more human than human" on a Nexus 6...

...and do androids dream of electric sheep?

[MeshugeMikey]

this falls squarely into the anything’s possible but not everything’s likely column.

[Poison Pill]

Siri, should Chekhov attend Sulu’s gay wedding?

[Swordmaker]

No no... the simple, logical answer is not appropriate for Swordmaker. Instead, the article LIES because this may be construed negatively for Apple.

No one has corroborated the story. It is false. Ergo, you are willing to believe the lies, the FUD. . . as usual you will jump on any anti-Apple information no matter how illogical, ill founded, or un-confirmed it may be in your hatred for anything or anyone associated at all peripherally with Apple.

[Swordmaker]

Probably, the Russian words staying for "gay", "lesbian", "homosexual", etc. were in a kind of an obscene words' list. That Alex guessed they were. In this case "fixing" could have been just removing them from the list.

The SIRI intelligent system is no where near so simplistic that a mere list of words would block any question and hijack the responses in such a manner onto canned responses such as what is presented. This is spoofed.

[bolobaby]

Again... you keep saying I hate Apple. I've repeatedly said I'm technology agnostic, but currently prefer my Samsung device. You turn my preference for pumpkin pie into a hatred for apple pie.

And... again... I only jump on these threads these days to get a chuckle out of your spin.

There is no possible thing wrong with Apple. Nothing. Apple is perfect in every possible way.

(There has to be hope that there is a human being in there and that, one day, you will become slightly self aware of how you turn every possible article into an opportunity to fawn over your corporate god.)

[BradyLS]

When posing a question to Siri in a language it understands, I wonder if the response is determined by whether or not recognized pejoratives are used in the question.

For example, if Siri, when listening and speaking Russian, is programmed to understand that all words describing homosexuals are pejorative, will answer with "stop being rude", etc. to any and all questions about them.

If so, then Siri may not "know any better." If Siri answers that way even when neutral/clinical terms are used, then Apple has some interesting questions to answer!

[Freelance Warrior]

Well, yes, I agree. But take a note, Apple said it has “fixed” Siri, as the article claims, so, I think, there is the question to them.