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Apple suspends Siri response grading in response to privacy concerns

techcrunch.com

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Re: Apple suspends Siri response grading in response to privacy concerns

#141

Post by coldpie »

justin66 wrote: post #131
probably_wrong wrote: post #19

So far, most of the comments here are a good example of both why this happened and why it will happen again. When people complained that putting microphones in your home 24/7 was creepy, the response was "that's nonsense, Siri is not sending anything unless you specifically ask for it". When it turned out that it does send things you didn't intend, the response was "well, it's not like anyone is listening anyway". No…

> We really need mandatory ethics courses in CS. We need a bit more than that. People do things they've been taught are wrong all the time. They do them somewhat less often when there's a structure in place to hold them accountable.

Doctors and structural engineers have standards bodies and certification processes to ensure their members are behaving ethically and using sound practices. Perhaps we should have similar for software developers.

Re: Apple suspends Siri response grading in response to privacy concerns

#142

Post by criddell »

justin66 wrote: post #131
probably_wrong wrote: post #19

So far, most of the comments here are a good example of both why this happened and why it will happen again. When people complained that putting microphones in your home 24/7 was creepy, the response was "that's nonsense, Siri is not sending anything unless you specifically ask for it". When it turned out that it does send things you didn't intend, the response was "well, it's not like anyone is listening anyway". No…

> We really need mandatory ethics courses in CS. We need a bit more than that. People do things they've been taught are wrong all the time. They do them somewhat less often when there's a structure in place to hold them accountable.

Ethics should be a mandatory part of any STEM program.

Re: Apple suspends Siri response grading in response to privacy concerns

#143

Post by criddell »

DoofusOfDeath wrote: post #139
probably_wrong wrote: post #19

So far, most of the comments here are a good example of both why this happened and why it will happen again. When people complained that putting microphones in your home 24/7 was creepy, the response was "that's nonsense, Siri is not sending anything unless you specifically ask for it". When it turned out that it does send things you didn't intend, the response was "well, it's not like anyone is listening anyway". No…

What benefit would you expect from a mandatory ethics course?

You could ask the same thing about any course.

Re: Apple suspends Siri response grading in response to privacy concerns

#144

Post by inscionent »

dfcmt wrote: post #108
izacus wrote: post #37

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I think the outcry is mostly: 1.) Apple literally plastered "What happens on your iPhone stays on your iPhone" ads around CES to make fun of competitors. - https://www.macworld.com/article/3331597/apple-privacy-billb... 2.) Apple always slams competitors over their lack of privacy on every keynote. I think the outcry is more than warranted when the company is blatantly lying to your face in their marketing.

Only that Siri doesn't happen on the iPhone, and it's easy to prove: try using Siri with aeroplane mode on.

The audio to text translation does happen on the iPhone. Siri is a service, yes a network is required to access the service.

Re: Apple suspends Siri response grading in response to privacy concerns

#145

Post by some_random »

probably_wrong wrote: post #19

So far, most of the comments here are a good example of both why this happened and why it will happen again. When people complained that putting microphones in your home 24/7 was creepy, the response was "that's nonsense, Siri is not sending anything unless you specifically ask for it". When it turned out that it does send things you didn't intend, the response was "well, it's not like anyone is listening anyway". No…

Next someone calls the police on a customer after overhearing child/spousal abuse. "I can't believe you think that's a bad thing"

Then the cops are called after drug deals are overheard, and the response is "Of course {large company} would call the police on criminals"

How long after that will "not having a smart home assistant" be viewed suspicious?

Re: Apple suspends Siri response grading in response to privacy concerns

#146

Post by jtbayly »

misnome wrote: post #132
probably_wrong wrote: post #19

So far, most of the comments here are a good example of both why this happened and why it will happen again. When people complained that putting microphones in your home 24/7 was creepy, the response was "that's nonsense, Siri is not sending anything unless you specifically ask for it". When it turned out that it does send things you didn't intend, the response was "well, it's not like anyone is listening anyway". No…

> When people complained that putting microphones in your home 24/7 was creepy, the response was "that's nonsense, Siri is not sending anything unless you specifically ask for it". This seems like a distorted representation, to support your argument, of what most the complaints and responses were. The gulf between 24/7 recording and "occasionally unintentional sending" is absolutely massive and you just merge them in…

Many apps turn the microphone on and leave it on. Even if they aren’t recording it all or having somebody listen, it is clearly to spy on you to see what you are doing. (Ie did you hear some ad?)

That’s not a conspiracy theory, and it is practically indistinguishable from constant listening for the normal person.

Re: Apple suspends Siri response grading in response to privacy concerns

#147

Post by blub »

misnome wrote: post #132
probably_wrong wrote: post #19

So far, most of the comments here are a good example of both why this happened and why it will happen again. When people complained that putting microphones in your home 24/7 was creepy, the response was "that's nonsense, Siri is not sending anything unless you specifically ask for it". When it turned out that it does send things you didn't intend, the response was "well, it's not like anyone is listening anyway". No…

> When people complained that putting microphones in your home 24/7 was creepy, the response was "that's nonsense, Siri is not sending anything unless you specifically ask for it". This seems like a distorted representation, to support your argument, of what most the complaints and responses were. The gulf between 24/7 recording and "occasionally unintentional sending" is absolutely massive and you just merge them in…

You need to carefully read what you are quoting.

The microphones are in the houses 24/7, connected to power and the internet. That is creepy.

There were also several creepy situations involving these devices:

* Google home had a hardware flaw which actually made it record 24/7.

* all assistants activate by mistake when they think they recognize the activation word. Siriously.

* An Amazon Echo recorded a private conversation and sent it to a random contact of the owner

Re: Apple suspends Siri response grading in response to privacy concerns

#148

Post by cheeseomlit »

criddell wrote: post #142
justin66 wrote: post #131

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> We really need mandatory ethics courses in CS. We need a bit more than that. People do things they've been taught are wrong all the time. They do them somewhat less often when there's a structure in place to hold them accountable.

Ethics should be a mandatory part of any STEM program.

Ethics isn't something you can learn in a classroom, a college professor can't teach you the difference between right and wrong or good and evil.

Re: Apple suspends Siri response grading in response to privacy concerns

#150

Post by throwawaylolx »

probably_wrong wrote: post #19

So far, most of the comments here are a good example of both why this happened and why it will happen again. When people complained that putting microphones in your home 24/7 was creepy, the response was "that's nonsense, Siri is not sending anything unless you specifically ask for it". When it turned out that it does send things you didn't intend, the response was "well, it's not like anyone is listening anyway". No…

>We really need mandatory ethics courses in CS.

That's an odd conclusion. Is there any evidence that ethics courses helped in any other industry? I can't imagine Apple developers are unaware about privacy concerns because they weren't taught ethics in their undergrad.

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