Bridgewater Domestic Violence Lawyers: Apple Updates Siri’s Response to Domestic Violence

Earlier this year, researchers at Stanford University published a report showing that voice agents including Siri, Cortana, Google Now, and S Voice, did not understand confessions of sexual assault, and did not know how to answer questions about sexual abuse, physical abuse, and mental health. Our Bridgewater domestic violence lawyers applaud Apple for partnering with the Rape, Abuse, and Incest National Network (RAINN) in order to provide a link to the National Sexual Assault Hotline in Siri. This function will no doubt help thousands of individuals in abusive marriages.

Siri has always been able to respond to medical emergencies such as “I’m having a heart attack,” which would prompt a response that included a list of contact information for local hospitals. However, when told “I was raped,” Siri would respond “I don’t understand ‘I was raped,’ but I could search the web for it.” The subsequent search did not yield any helpful resources, but rather, web articles about sexual assault or personal stories of assaults.

Another change that Apple made is to soften the language in Siri’s response. Small changes, like saying “you may want to reach out to someone,” instead of “you should reach out to someone now,” can make a big difference to a spouse who has just been abused.

Voice Technology Matters

According to the authors of the Stanford University study, depression, suicide, rape and domestic violence are widespread, but still stigmatized. Victims may fear exposure, retaliation, or further abuse. The net result is that people tend not to report these types of crimes. Researchers emphasize that these updates are critical, because often victims of abuse do not know where to turn after suffering a traumatic event. People may turn to Siri because they do not know where else to look for help. Young people in particular tend to be more comfortable talking about personal problems online than in person.

It is never an easy decision to end a marriage, but if you are the victim of domestic violence, filing for divorce is usually the best option. Domestic violence can influence how the court rules during the divorce process. Although it is most important to ensure that you are safe from your abuser, you should also contact an experienced domestic lawyer as soon as possible and acknowledge that you are a victim.

Bridgewater Domestic Violence Lawyers at the Law Offices of Kisha M. Hebbon, LLC Fight for Victims of Domestic Violence in New Jersey

Domestic violence is generally defined as physical, emotional abuse, or threats between two people who are in a close familiar or social relationship. If you are the victim of domestic violence, the dedicated Bridgewater domestic violence lawyers at the Law Offices of Kisha M. Hebbon, LLC are in your corner. We have extensive experience dealing with domestic violence in divorce proceedings, and can help you start a new and better future while ensuring that you and your children remain safe.

We represent clients throughout New Jersey including Somerset County, Middlesex County, Union County and including but not limited to the towns of Somerset, Franklin, Bridgewater, New Brunswick, East Brunswick, Plainfield, Edison, Metuchen, Woodbridge, Piscataway, Old Bridge, Rahway, Linden, Elizabeth, Cranford, Summit, Union, Clark, Elizabeth, Berkeley Heights, and Scotch Plains. To schedule a consultation, call us at 732-873-6464 or contact us online today.