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Amazon device recorded private conversation, sent it out to random contact

kiro7.com

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Re: Amazon device recorded private conversation, sent it out to random contact

#4
post #2

The article doesn't explain much, but it sounds to me like the device mistakenly interpreted a voice command to record and send a message.

The article makes it sound like the engineers didn't know what was going on, so it could be an actual bug, unless support was just trying to placate her.

Re: Amazon device recorded private conversation, sent it out to random contact

#5
post #4
post #2

The article doesn't explain much, but it sounds to me like the device mistakenly interpreted a voice command to record and send a message.

The article makes it sound like the engineers didn't know what was going on, so it could be an actual bug, unless support was just trying to placate her.

The fact that the device didn't audibly confirm the message appears to be a bug, from my reading.

Re: Amazon device recorded private conversation, sent it out to random contact

#6
post #2

The article doesn't explain much, but it sounds to me like the device mistakenly interpreted a voice command to record and send a message.

Sure, but isn't that still terrifying? It brings me back to something I wonder about with these voice activated devices: you have no idea what it can do. Voice UIs are so utterly opaque, and Amazon(/Google/whoever) pushes new software updates without informing you. So it'll add new commands all the time, and you won't know about it until you accidentally trigger it, making it do... whatever.

But either way, they should surely be confirming this before send, the same way Siri does when I ask it to send a text.

Re: Amazon device recorded private conversation, sent it out to random contact

#7
> But Danielle is hoping Amazon gives her a refund for her devices, which she said their representatives have been unwilling to do.

Based on Amazon's admission and apologies, I'd think they'd be willing to give a lot more than just a refund. Seems like a huge liability for them.

Re: Amazon device recorded private conversation, sent it out to random contact

#8
post #2

The article doesn't explain much, but it sounds to me like the device mistakenly interpreted a voice command to record and send a message.

I could be mistaken but I believe there are confirmations required?

Could it be that the volume was set very low and they inadvertently triggered their way through the entire dialog? I've accidentally set alarms from a few rooms away but this is a whole other level.

Re: Amazon device recorded private conversation, sent it out to random contact

#9
post #6
post #2

The article doesn't explain much, but it sounds to me like the device mistakenly interpreted a voice command to record and send a message.

Sure, but isn't that still terrifying? It brings me back to something I wonder about with these voice activated devices: you have no idea what it can do. Voice UIs are so utterly opaque, and Amazon(/Google/whoever) pushes new software updates without informing you. So it'll add new commands all the time, and you won't know about it until you accidentally trigger it, making it do... whatever . But either way, they sho…

[deleted]

Re: Amazon device recorded private conversation, sent it out to random contact

#10
Well, when you consider that Amazon's devices once interpreted random noises as a ", laugh" command (as per their explanation), that a voice command to record and send a message could be created from random conversation is not in the least bit surprising.

Inappropriate, worrying, but not surprising.

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