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Amazon Sends 1,700 Alexa Voice Recordings to a Random Person

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Re: Amazon Sends 1,700 Alexa Voice Recordings to a Random Person

#41
post #4

Earlier quoted context omitted.

The actual recordings are the most valuable data for modeling purposes so I actually assume they try to store it to improve the system

Doesn't using live data for testing create GDPR issues?

I would assume that if they made a voice print for you personally it would be fine. It should be still recognized as your own personal data, and underly the same laws

Re: Amazon Sends 1,700 Alexa Voice Recordings to a Random Person

#43
Among other things, this makes me suspect that there is no formal internal audit record/trail with regard to accessing these records.

We are left trusting individual Amazon employees to do the right thing.

Most will, anyway. But hand in hand with "privacy" comes "accountability", on the part of records holders.

Re: Amazon Sends 1,700 Alexa Voice Recordings to a Random Person

#45
post #14

Earlier quoted context omitted.

On the vast majority of devices it is not always on. It is not a nitpick. Accidentally recording or even intentionally recording is many orders of magnitude simpler when the device is supposed to always be listening. The fact that a single employee even could make the mistake mentioned in the articles is one example of why. Eventhough it also really does hint that the backend isn't up to par at amazon.

> On the vast majority of devices it is not always on. Would you consider the device "listening" if a DSP is listening for a particular hotword, but no audio data is being uploaded? I'm pretty sure that's what happens in either case, whether you're using Alexa, Siri, or Google Assistant, and whether it's a "home" device or a phone with hotword detection. I used to work at Google on some related hardware projects. If…

Yes.

There have also been issues of google devices accidentally recording constantly. And then "accidentally" stream it to the cloud.

https://www.gearbrain.com/google-home-mini-recorded-everythi...

The level of safe guards google et al put in to deal with stuff like this are incomprehensible poor.

The accuracy is irrelevant.

Re: Amazon Sends 1,700 Alexa Voice Recordings to a Random Person

#46
post #17

I am baffled by how many people have no problems adding always listening and recording Google and Facebook devices to their living rooms. Some are considered tech people who should know stuff like this could happen, but they just don't care or don't think it will happen to them. Somewhere there is an ex-Stasi officer who is thinking "I wish we were that good and had people fooled to voluntarily install listening devi…

Astonishingly, people are able to do tricky trade-offs. They trade privacy for utility in this case. What’s wrong with that?

Re: Amazon Sends 1,700 Alexa Voice Recordings to a Random Person

#48
post #17

I am baffled by how many people have no problems adding always listening and recording Google and Facebook devices to their living rooms. Some are considered tech people who should know stuff like this could happen, but they just don't care or don't think it will happen to them. Somewhere there is an ex-Stasi officer who is thinking "I wish we were that good and had people fooled to voluntarily install listening devi…

1) It's always listening for a keyword, and then it starts recording. It's a voice interface for a computer. 2) Your phone is doing the same thing except for it follows you around everywhere you go and records your map location, what apps you use, who you are talking to and what your web searches are. Your phone isn't recording just what you say...its recording what you do and where you do it and when you do it. It's…

I get 1) and 3), but I don’t buy 2). Your phone works with Siri/any other assistant off. The connected speakers don’t. So the comparison doesn’t hold in my opinion.

Re: Amazon Sends 1,700 Alexa Voice Recordings to a Random Person

#49
post #17

I am baffled by how many people have no problems adding always listening and recording Google and Facebook devices to their living rooms. Some are considered tech people who should know stuff like this could happen, but they just don't care or don't think it will happen to them. Somewhere there is an ex-Stasi officer who is thinking "I wish we were that good and had people fooled to voluntarily install listening devi…

[deleted]

Re: Amazon Sends 1,700 Alexa Voice Recordings to a Random Person

#50
post #31
post #17

I am baffled by how many people have no problems adding always listening and recording Google and Facebook devices to their living rooms. Some are considered tech people who should know stuff like this could happen, but they just don't care or don't think it will happen to them. Somewhere there is an ex-Stasi officer who is thinking "I wish we were that good and had people fooled to voluntarily install listening devi…

Why are you baffled? They’re great little devices. I have two Amazon echoes. Now that I can use my Apple Music, they are used constantly. Voice-first devices are long overdue.

This is just my opinion, based on my experience and personality.

Voice first running entirely on prem with no internet connectivity, sure I would go for that.

Talking to the internet? No way. Not even if I had root on the device with the source code to the OS, firmware and applications.

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