Google chief: I'd disclose smart speakers before guests enter my home • Hacker News Board

Re: Google chief: I'd disclose smart speakers before guests enter my home

#111

Post by csallen » Thu, Oct 17, 2019, 1:12 PM UTC

LudwigNagasena wrote: post #2

>"Gosh, I haven't thought about this before in quite this way," Osterloh said. "It's quite important for all these technologies to think about all users... we have to consider all stakeholders that might be in proximity." How much do they not care about privacy that a chief exec with an army of lawyers and advisors "haven't thought about this before"?

He immediately admitted that he warns guests in his own home about being recorded, and the article discusses the fact that the cameras have an LED light that turns on when recording. So it's clearly not true that he hadn't thought of this before.

Re: Google chief: I'd disclose smart speakers before guests enter my home

#112

Post by thecatspaw » Thu, Oct 17, 2019, 1:13 PM UTC

krageon wrote: post #97

jstanley wrote: post #31

Earlier quoted context omitted.

What is actually the correct way to do this? I don't use Android myself (I use https://ubports.com/ - it's great and you should try it), but several times I've had other people ask me to turn it off, and the best I can come up with is just dragging the Google search box off the home screen. But there's no feedback to suggest it's not still listening , only that shouting "OK GOOGLE" at the phone no longer does anythin…

Flashing it with something that has no google services is the most correct way to make sure you are not being spied on.

Actually, nevermind, I'll just go home again. Its been fun meeting you old friend

Re: Google chief: I'd disclose smart speakers before guests enter my home

#113

Post by astral303 » Thu, Oct 17, 2019, 1:13 PM UTC

prepend wrote: post #73

XJ6 wrote: post #12

Earlier quoted context omitted.

All "big tech" are at it, I tried to go to "My Pictures" the other day and microsoft asked me to run my pictures through facial recognition. They said that by consenting I was asserting I had the consent of anyone who appeared in any of my photos or might appear in future which is insane to ask of anyone, no-one can really give that third party consent. Then when I refused they showed me a nag screen which didn't hav…

Google has implemented this asshole design/nagware in many products to push unnecessary to me and invasive data collection or functionality I want won’t be available. For example, their maps app on iOS won’t save locations for me unless I sign in an enable web history tracking. I get prompted every time I try to save a pin as well as every once in a while I’m case I change my mind. It’s a free app and it’s Google’s p…

I think Google Maps not saving your history as you described is an incredibly bad, frustrating experience.

FFS, my phone has gigs of RAM, why can’t Google Maps remember the address I searched for ten minutes ago? One minute ago? This is 2019. It has been this bad for a decade plus. Embarrassing IMO and demonstrates true UX myopia and true UX incompetence.

Re: Google chief: I'd disclose smart speakers before guests enter my home

#114

Post by thecatspaw » Thu, Oct 17, 2019, 1:14 PM UTC

CaptainZapp wrote: post #109

g5pw wrote: post #103

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Just a heads-up: Waze is owned by Google [1] now. [1]: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Waze#Google_subsidiary

Waze was recommended by family for a trip to Israel. The good news: Available for Windows Phone (which I had at that time) The bad news: In order to use it access to my address book. For a navigation app ? WHAT THE FUCK!

probably to suggest destinations

Re: Google chief: I'd disclose smart speakers before guests enter my home

#115

Post by saluki » Thu, Oct 17, 2019, 1:15 PM UTC

I was a huge Google Fan but this is becoming lunacy.

I understood trading some data and privacy for great search results, maps and free quality email.

But people willingly bringing always on listening devices in to their homes (beyond what smartphones are already capable of) I just can't comprehend it.

Why would people voluntarily do this in exchange for being able to ask for weather, play a playlist, add a todo and a few other parlor tricks.

I guess I value my privacy more than others and don't like the idea of entities compiling a record of my data that they can sell and market.

Imagine how some governments could use this data to limit freedoms, crack down on their opposition.

And what about the first data breech that includes transcripts or even audio of all your household conversations/activities over the past three years matched up to your email or even address?

It just sounds like we are heading down the wrong road.

Re: Google chief: I'd disclose smart speakers before guests enter my home

#116

Post by mguerville » Thu, Oct 17, 2019, 1:16 PM UTC

jwalton wrote: post #76

XJ6 wrote: post #12

Earlier quoted context omitted.

All "big tech" are at it, I tried to go to "My Pictures" the other day and microsoft asked me to run my pictures through facial recognition. They said that by consenting I was asserting I had the consent of anyone who appeared in any of my photos or might appear in future which is insane to ask of anyone, no-one can really give that third party consent. Then when I refused they showed me a nag screen which didn't hav…

> I wanted to try the google podcasts but it was a brick because I had disabled "youtube & web activity" This is the worst. I have all the privacy settings turned up. In Google Maps on my phone, when I try to set my "Home" location, it tells me I need to turn on "Web and App Activity". What? Why? How are these two things related? Why do you have to track what apps I use and upload this info to Google in order to reme…

I had an app that refused to work unless high accuracy location was turned on. There was a location aspect to it but demanding the highest setting of location sharing was vastly overreaching and I just uninstalled the app.

Re: Google chief: I'd disclose smart speakers before guests enter my home

#117

Post by lotsofpulp » Thu, Oct 17, 2019, 1:21 PM UTC

jstewartmobile wrote: post #70

I have an ordinary thermostat that doesn't need firmware, an internet connection, or to eavesdrop on my conversations. It works great! What exactly is the advantage here?

Automatically turning HVAC systems on and off depending if the place is empty, turning it back on remotely, cycling the fan on and off to circulate air more often, removing excess humidity, using data about sunlight to adjust temps.

There must be energy savings for the utility companies to give them out for free or almost free. Although I prefer the HomeKit thermostats since I presume Apple has better privacy controls.

Re: Google chief: I'd disclose smart speakers before guests enter my home

#118

Post by vageli » Thu, Oct 17, 2019, 1:23 PM UTC

criley2 wrote: post #88

eloisant wrote: post #59

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I might be wrong but I don't think Android phone are always listening by default.

All smartphones, Apple and Android, use dedicated audio processors which are always listening for the command word by saving recent audio to a buffer and analyzing it before discarding it. There has never been any evidence that I've ever seen that these audio processors save and transmit their work pre-activation, only post-activation of the service. Although I do remember in the 2014-2016 time frame when the CIA hac…

> All smartphones, Apple and Android, use dedicated audio processors which are always listening for the command word by saving recent audio to a buffer and analyzing it before discarding it.

Not all Android phones have Google Assistant.

Re: Google chief: I'd disclose smart speakers before guests enter my home

#119

Post by CelestialTeapot » Thu, Oct 17, 2019, 1:23 PM UTC

They should be required to display a "premises under 24 hour surveillance and recording" at their front door when they have any of these sorts of devices.

Re: Google chief: I'd disclose smart speakers before guests enter my home

#120

Post by woodrowbarlow » Thu, Oct 17, 2019, 1:26 PM UTC

kareemm wrote: post #98

Since cameras and mics are embedded in all kinds of consumer devices these days, it makes me think we need a site that recommends devices that DONT include surveillance as a “feature”. Sort of a Wirecutter for privacy. Does this exist?

well it really depends how far down the rabbit hole you want to go.

a laptop running OSS is better than a laptop running win10, but then there's usually still intel ME doing goodness knows what.

a phone running sailfish or f-droid is better than OEM android, but there's still your cellular service provider selling location data to goodness knows who.

anyway, check out the pinebook (laptop), librem 5 (phone), mycroft (voice assistant).