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Voice controlled assistants: Are you concerned about privacy Amazon Echo, Google, Google Home, Apple HomePod?
Posted by: pRICE cUBE
Date: December 05, 2017 04:40PM
Poll
65 votes were received.
All visitors can vote.
Concerned?



[gizmodo.com]

You probably think that having an always-on microphone in your home is fine, and furthermore, tech companies only record and store snippets of your most intimate conversations. No big deal, you tell yourself.

Actually, it is a big deal. The newfound privacy conundrum presented by installing a device that can literally listen to everything you’re saying represents a chilling new development in the age of internet-connected things. By buying a smart speaker, you’re effectively paying money to let a huge tech company surveil you. And I don’t mean to sound overly cynical about this, either. Amazon, Google, Apple, and others say that their devices aren’t spying on unsuspecting families. The only problem is that these gadgets are both hackable and prone to bugs.

Which brings us back to security and surveillance. I’m not here to be Tin Foil Hat Man and convince you that companies like Amazon are spying on your every move and compiling data sets based on your activity so that they can more effectively serve you ads or sell you products. I am here to say that smart speakers like the Echo do contain microphones that are always on, and every time you say something to the speaker, it sends data back to the server farm. (By the way: If you enabled an always-listening assistant on your smartphone, now’s a good time to consider the implications.) For now, the companies that sell smart speakers say that those microphones only send recordings to the servers when you use the wake word. The same companies are less explicit about what they’re doing with all that data. They’re also vague about whether they might share voice recordings with developers in the future. Amazon, at least, seems open to the idea.

We do know that Amazon will hand over your Echo data if the gadget becomes involved in a homicide investigation. That very thing happened earlier this year, and while Amazon had previously refused to hand over customer data, the company didn’t argue with a subpoena in a murder case. It remains unclear how government agencies like the FBI, CIA, and NSA are treating smart speakers, too. The FBI, for one, would neither confirm nor deny wiretapping Amazon Echo devices when Gizmodo asked the agency about it last year.


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Phony Stark's Robot
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Re: Voice controlled assistants: Are you concerned about privacy Amazon Echo, Google, Google Home, Apple HomePod?
Posted by: ka jowct
Date: December 05, 2017 04:53PM
NFW is one of those things going to be in my home.
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Re: Voice controlled assistants: Are you concerned about privacy Amazon Echo, Google, Google Home, Apple HomePod?
Posted by: billb
Date: December 05, 2017 04:55PM
Mostly concerned about potential hackability.

Kinda liking the extra security Apple's homekit is supposed to afford users.
But there are those that enjoy a challenge.

I'm not sure I trust Siri, I DO NOT trust google or Amazon to share MY concerns about MY privacy.


The Phorum Wall keeps us safe from illegal characters and words
The doorstep to the temple of wisdom is the knowledge of one's own ignorance. -Benjamin Franklin
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Re: Voice controlled assistants: Are you concerned about privacy Amazon Echo, Google, Google Home, Apple HomePod?
Posted by: Article Accelerator
Date: December 05, 2017 04:55PM
I would be concerned about privacy in respect Amazon Echo, Google,and Google Home if I had any of those devices.

I would have no such concern about the Apple HomePod.

[www.apple.com]
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Re: Voice controlled assistants: Are you concerned about privacy Amazon Echo, Google, Google Home, Apple HomePod?
Posted by: davester
Date: December 05, 2017 05:08PM


One day I expect some of you will hear Alexa say 'And by the way, while we are on the subject, "Here comes a candle to light you to bed, here comes a chopper to chop off your head"!'


"In science it often happens that scientists say, 'You know that's a really good argument; my position is mistaken,' and then they would actually change their minds and you never hear that old view from them again. They really do it. It doesn't happen as often as it should, because scientists are human and change is sometimes painful. But it happens every day. I cannot recall the last time something like that happened in politics or religion." (1987) -- Carl Sagan
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Re: Voice controlled assistants: Are you concerned about privacy Amazon Echo, Google, Google Home, Apple HomePod?
Posted by: Lew Zealand
Date: December 05, 2017 05:09PM
Unconcerned as I've really tried to figure out a use for them but just don't have one. One of the reasons is that our house simply isn't big enough to make use of something when there's barely enough room to swing a cat around.
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Re: Voice controlled assistants: Are you concerned about privacy Amazon Echo, Google, Google Home, Apple HomePod?
Posted by: Filliam H. Muffman
Date: December 05, 2017 05:19PM
If you have a smartphone, you already have something in your home that can listen in on everything. It's just that for most apps, you haven't knowingly signed your privacy away like with Alexa. Apple has been much better at protecting users privacy, I hope they are continually monitoring new and old apps for spying.


In tha 360. MRF User Map
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Re: Voice controlled assistants: Are you concerned about privacy Amazon Echo, Google, Google Home, Apple HomePod?
Posted by: Harbourmaster
Date: December 05, 2017 05:33PM
Don't (and won't!) own one, so not concerned. No "smart" TV's in my house either. tongue sticking out smiley


Aloha, Ken


“I have developed significant attachments to several members even though I wouldn't recognize them if I sat next to one on a park bench. I'm often tempted when in an airport to walk around, hollering "The Løpe", to see if anyone other than the Homeland Security people will acknowledge me. ” - The Løpe

"If there is any fixed star in our constitutional constellation, it is that no official, high or petty, can prescribe what shall be orthodox in politics, nationalism, religion, or other matters of opinion, or force citizens to confess by word or act their faith therein. If there are any circumstances which permit an exception, they do not now occur to us." Justice Robert Jackson
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Re: Voice controlled assistants: Are you concerned about privacy Amazon Echo, Google, Google Home, Apple HomePod?
Posted by: cbelt3
Date: December 05, 2017 05:53PM
I carry my wiretap with me at all times. Siri is Big Brother’s sister !
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Re: Voice controlled assistants: Are you concerned about privacy Amazon Echo, Google, Google Home, Apple HomePod?
Posted by: hal
Date: December 05, 2017 06:26PM
Results of these polls makes it really clear that this is a group of oldsters :-)
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Re: Voice controlled assistants: Are you concerned about privacy Amazon Echo, Google, Google Home, Apple HomePod?
Posted by: NewtonMP2100
Date: December 05, 2017 06:32PM
.....too late if you are a private dancer.......


_____________________________________

I reject your reality and substitute my own!
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Re: Voice controlled assistants: Are you concerned about privacy Amazon Echo, Google, Google Home, Apple HomePod?
Posted by: pRICE cUBE
Date: December 05, 2017 06:34PM
Quote
hal
Results of these polls makes it really clear that this is a group of oldsters :-)
\


Or a bunch of deviants jest smiley


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Phony Stark's Robot
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Re: Voice controlled assistants: Are you concerned about privacy Amazon Echo, Google, Google Home, Apple HomePod?
Posted by: The UnDoug
Date: December 05, 2017 06:36PM
I have an Echo Dot ("Alexa"), and am really not at all concerned.

I don't think I'm saying anything that is of a private enough nature to put me at risk. I guess, overall, I'm just not of the opinion that the companies would be able to mine my conversation data to find anything that could impact my future.


[www.zeemaps.com]
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Re: Voice controlled assistants: Are you concerned about privacy Amazon Echo, Google, Google Home, Apple HomePod?
Posted by: Bernie
Date: December 05, 2017 06:59PM
RF pollution. It is a wonder we can sleep.
I am the tin foil rep in these parts.
Think about it. I would be total Ethernet but I need wifi for my Nintendo. Cell Phones are scorching the Earth and us, but we can not live without them, so blame the warming on cow farts.
One private little low power wifi network is not enough. Comcast needs to use your modem and location to create a wifi for every one every where.
I want aluminum siding on my house. My mom has it and no signals get in or out.



Staunton, Virginia
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Re: Voice controlled assistants: Are you concerned about privacy Amazon Echo, Google, Google Home, Apple HomePod?
Posted by: RE:up
Date: December 05, 2017 07:14PM
NO way will I allow one of those in my home.
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Re: Voice controlled assistants: Are you concerned about privacy Amazon Echo, Google, Google Home, Apple HomePod?
Posted by: jdc
Date: December 05, 2017 07:19PM
Maybe in the future, right now they only seem to want to use it to sell you stuff. Like your web browsing history.




Edited 999 time(s). Last edit at 12:08PM by jdc.
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Re: Voice controlled assistants: Are you concerned about privacy Amazon Echo, Google, Google Home, Apple HomePod?
Posted by: hal
Date: December 05, 2017 07:33PM
I think I would kinda like it. Really, the only thing I would do is say, 'Play such & such album' - and that would be kind of nice while I'm working. I often forget to get music going when I start working and don't bother when I realize that I forgot. YES, I'm lazy.

But is it worth finding another AC plug? Having another wifi client. I dunno... might be worth $25 to me to have around. I'm not a grade-A consumer that Amazon would like - I wouldn't use it for buying stuff.
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Re: Voice controlled assistants: Are you concerned about privacy Amazon Echo, Google, Google Home, Apple HomePod?
Posted by: N-OS X-tasy!
Date: December 05, 2017 08:15PM
Quote
Filliam H. Muffman
If you have a smartphone, you already have something in your home that can listen in on everything.

Only if that functionality is activated. In six years of being an iPhone user, I have never activated Siri, for this exact reason.


It is what it is.
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Re: Voice controlled assistants: Are you concerned about privacy Amazon Echo, Google, Google Home, Apple HomePod?
Posted by: N-OS X-tasy!
Date: December 05, 2017 08:16PM
Quote
hal
Results of these polls makes it really clear that this is a group of oldsters :-)

AKA a group of people who have been alive long enough to know when to trust and when not to.


It is what it is.
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Re: Voice controlled assistants: Are you concerned about privacy Amazon Echo, Google, Google Home, Apple HomePod?
Posted by: N-OS X-tasy!
Date: December 05, 2017 08:17PM
Quote
RE:up
NO way will I allow one of those in my home.

Ditto.


It is what it is.
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Re: Voice controlled assistants: Are you concerned about privacy Amazon Echo, Google, Google Home, Apple HomePod?
Posted by: NewtonMP2100
Date: December 05, 2017 08:49PM
.....they are already listening through the TV.....remember that on the news........


_____________________________________

I reject your reality and substitute my own!
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Re: Voice controlled assistants: Are you concerned about privacy Amazon Echo, Google, Google Home, Apple HomePod?
Posted by: sekker
Date: December 05, 2017 08:49PM
Don't visit my home - we love our home automation.

Amazon already has several of my credit cards and knows what I'm ordering. Who cares whether they also know which lights I have on in my house, or what timers are active while cooking.

I find the hands-free aspect of a GOOD voice assistant (i.e. NOT Siri) to be outstanding in key areas.

Those of you who sent in your DNA to 23andme or ancestry.com gave up far more privacy than all of our Echos combined.
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Re: Voice controlled assistants: Are you concerned about privacy Amazon Echo, Google, Google Home, Apple HomePod?
Posted by: mattkime
Date: December 05, 2017 09:17PM
IMO, the info floating out there about you in a variety of other formats is probably much worse.


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Re: Voice controlled assistants: Are you concerned about privacy Amazon Echo, Google, Google Home, Apple HomePod?
Posted by: sekker
Date: December 05, 2017 09:40PM
Quote
mattkime
IMO, the info floating out there about you in a variety of other formats is probably much worse.

I think it's also an issue where people use Siri to judge the quality of a voice assistant.

Siri is STILL not as good as the original Echo, and Amazon has made good advances in how its devices work.

Google is also better than Siri.

I get that if you do not see the utility of these devices, then ANY privacy risk is too much.
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Re: Voice controlled assistants: Are you concerned about privacy Amazon Echo, Google, Google Home, Apple HomePod?
Posted by: N-OS X-tasy!
Date: December 05, 2017 10:41PM
Quote
sekker
Don't visit my home - we love our home automation.

Amazon already has several of my credit cards and knows what I'm ordering. Who cares whether they also know which lights I have on in my house, or what timers are active while cooking.

I find the hands-free aspect of a GOOD voice assistant (i.e. NOT Siri) to be outstanding in key areas.

Those of you who sent in your DNA to 23andme or ancestry.com gave up far more privacy than all of our Echos combined.

You miss the point.

(And I would never have my DNA profiled, either, at least not voluntarily).


It is what it is.
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Re: Voice controlled assistants: Are you concerned about privacy Amazon Echo, Google, Google Home, Apple HomePod?
Posted by: stephen
Date: December 05, 2017 10:55PM
Two of my coworkers were having a lunch conversation about one of their kids struggling to hit a baseball.

A few hours later, ads for hitting coaches showed up in BOTH their Facebook feeds.

They spent the afternoon asking our IT guy to turn off whatever Facebook is listening to on their phones.
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Re: Voice controlled assistants: Are you concerned about privacy Amazon Echo, Google, Google Home, Apple HomePod?
Posted by: GuyGene
Date: December 06, 2017 06:09AM
Quote
Article Accelerator
I would be concerned about privacy in respect Amazon Echo, Google,and Google Home if I had any of those devices.

I would have no such concern about the Apple HomePod.

[www.apple.com]

agree smiley


That old man - he don't think like no old man...
Now I wouldn't want to be within 400 - 500 yards of one of them nuclear bombs when it goes off! WW1 Vet Old Man
"He's pinned under an outcropping of rock. Lucky for him, the rock kept the dirt from burying him alive."
If idiots could fly, this place would be an airport. And I'd be a TSA agent.
A bonified member of The Mystic Knights of The Sea, George P. Stevens, President. Andy Brown, Treasurer, Algonquin J. Calhoun, Legal Consultant.
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Re: Voice controlled assistants: Are you concerned about privacy Amazon Echo, Google, Google Home, Apple HomePod?
Posted by: mrlynn
Date: December 06, 2017 07:00AM
Quote
Article Accelerator
I would be concerned about privacy in respect Amazon Echo, Google,and Google Home if I had any of those devices.

I would have no such concern about the Apple HomePod.

[www.apple.com]

Sez Apple:

Quote

. . . we scramble your data and combine it with the data of millions of others. So we see general patterns, rather than specifics that could be traced back to you.

Eggs cannot be unscrambled, but I'm not so sure about data. Depends on how it's done, and what's saved somewhere.

Still, I have an iPhone, and occasionally ask Siri questions. I know Google and Amazon know every website I visit (if I look at a product, I start getting ads for it). So I don't let it get to me. I comment on blogs and have my own, too, so not much is private.

If you want privacy, stay off the Internet.

/Mr Lynn


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Re: Voice controlled assistants: Are you concerned about privacy Amazon Echo, Google, Google Home, Apple HomePod?
Posted by: testcase
Date: December 06, 2017 08:21AM
I....


I....


I....


I'm cummingggggggg........


Should I order more condoms?


smiley-shocked003
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Re: Voice controlled assistants: Are you concerned about privacy Amazon Echo, Google, Google Home, Apple HomePod?
Posted by: billb
Date: December 06, 2017 09:03AM
Quote
testcase
I....


I....


I....


I'm cummingggggggg........


Should I order more condoms?


smiley-shocked003


Amazon probably knows your stock level.


The Phorum Wall keeps us safe from illegal characters and words
The doorstep to the temple of wisdom is the knowledge of one's own ignorance. -Benjamin Franklin
BOYCOTT YOPLAIT [www.noyoplait.com]
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