Oops! Defence Secretary heckled ... by his iPhone
IT began as an embarrassing gaffe – the Defence Secretary being interrupted by his own phone.
But Gavin Williamson came under fire yesterday for having a careless approach to cyber security by allowing his iPhone to eavesdrop.
Mr Williamson had been updating MPs on the war against Islamic State when his phone sprung into life. In his pocket sat his Apple smartphone, which comes with a robot personal assistant. Called Siri, it can be activated by the owner calling its name – but evidently it misheard Mr Williamson, and interrupted as he spoke about Syria.
In what is believed to be a first in the Commons, Siri – loudly amplified by a microphone – addressed MPs.
As the Defence Secretary scrambled to silence his mobile, its robotic voice told the chamber: ‘I found something on the web for “Syrian democratic forces supported by coalition.”’ Mr Williamson then joked: ‘I do apologise for that, it is very rare that you’re heckled by your own mobile phone.’ He later said the incident was ‘one of the pitfalls of having a new iPhone’, adding: ‘ I must ask my 13- year- old daughter how to use it.’
Unless the function is switched off, software on Apple’s iPhones constantly listens for users in case they call Siri’s name.
The Ministry of Defence insisted there was ‘no security risk’ and stressed that mobile phones are not allowed in areas where confidential meetings take place. However, experts said the incident suggests the Defence Secretary does not take cyber security seriously.
Rodolfo Rosini, an information security expert, said: ‘In itself leaving Siri on is not a huge risk. But the problem is he signalled he is an easy target with no clue. It’s inexcusable for someone in his position.’
The incident caused debate about the protocol for recording it in Hansard – the verbatim report of words in Parliament.
Insiders have suggested it is likely to be recorded as an ‘interruption’ rather than as words spoken by the mobile phone.