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

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

#151

Post by itronitron »

greggman2 wrote: post #142
saluki wrote: post #115

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…

I hate not having privacy but I don't understand singling Google out here. Siri is listening (both on phones and on Apple' homepod), Alexa is listening, Cortana is listening, ... I actually am less worried about those (since I turn them off) than I do about Netflix/Amazon knowing every movie I watch. Amazon knowing every product I order. My Credit Card and Bank company knowing every business I transact with. My Mac a…

regarding Siri, I think the general assumption is that the phone is triggered by hearing 'Siri' to start recording. I doubt very much that people think their phone is always recording everything and that they are therefore ok with being recorded when not using siri.

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

#152

Post by neon_electro »

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?

Mozilla Foundation has a site called *privacy not included that I think attempts to accomplish what you're asking for: https://foundation.mozilla.org/en/privacynotincluded/

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

#153

Post by Kaiyou »

throwaheyy wrote: post #78
prepend wrote: post #73

Earlier quoted context omitted.

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…

That kind of user-hostile bullshit is why I avoid anything and everything associated with Google. Still use search, but trying to break that habit.

What else can you use, though? DuckDuckGo tracks you too, they're just lying about it, which is imho worse. Don't have the links handy right now, but it should be searchable. Alternatively, don't trust me.

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

#154

Post by davinic »

saluki wrote: post #144
tantalor wrote: post #129

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Do you own a cell phone?

of course I do, it's alluded to in my comment: "(beyond what smartphones are already capable of)" I agree, smart phones provide the same surveillance capabilities of 'smart' speakers and more. But supposedly phones aren't always on and listening to all your audio like the 'smart' speakers. This might just be a divide in society, some people accept surveillance as not an issue and are fine with it. Would you place a s…

But saying "beyond what smartphones are already capable of" diminishes the fact that they are also always listening, and are also generally near where you are. Siri, by default, is always listening. Most people don't understand or know this. People are then amazed when they put their phone on a table and say "Hey Siri" from across the room.

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

#155

Post by bluedevilzn »

saluki wrote: post #149
greggman2 wrote: post #142

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I hate not having privacy but I don't understand singling Google out here. Siri is listening (both on phones and on Apple' homepod), Alexa is listening, Cortana is listening, ... I actually am less worried about those (since I turn them off) than I do about Netflix/Amazon knowing every movie I watch. Amazon knowing every product I order. My Credit Card and Bank company knowing every business I transact with. My Mac a…

y, I agree it's not just Google. I think allowing any company or government having an open mic/'smart' speaker, essentially bugging your own home/business is just a bad idea. "I actually am less worried about those (since I turn them off)" - are you sure they are off, had to ask. I'm not as worried about Netflix/Amazon knowing every movie I watch, product I order or am interested in. I'm more worried about private co…

Nest/Google Home devices have a hardware mute button. They are off when they are off.

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

#156

Post by davinic »

dna_polymerase wrote: post #130
tantalor wrote: post #129

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Do you own a cell phone?

Having a cell phone does not invalidate their legitimate critique.

Of course not, but phrasing it in this way (that phones are a separate exception) minimizes the legitimate critiques of always-listening cellphone privacy.

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

#157

Post by saluki »

streb-lo wrote: post #150
saluki wrote: post #144

Earlier quoted context omitted.

of course I do, it's alluded to in my comment: "(beyond what smartphones are already capable of)" I agree, smart phones provide the same surveillance capabilities of 'smart' speakers and more. But supposedly phones aren't always on and listening to all your audio like the 'smart' speakers. This might just be a divide in society, some people accept surveillance as not an issue and are fine with it. Would you place a s…

> But supposedly phones aren't always on and listening to all your audio like the 'smart' speakers. New phones are. Also, AFAIK, Alexa et al. are only sending traffic home after the wake word is heard. I believe this has been confirmed via wireshark.

That's true a phone has 'smart' speaker features.

It seems 'smart' speakers wake more easily than Siri.

We hadn't been hearing news stories about FANG employees listening to/reviewing conversations intimate moments until the 'smart' speakers were deployed.

I expect this could have been going on with Siri as well though.

I'm open to using a 'smart' speaker in the future, there might not be any reason for concern.

Currently it just seems like a bad idea to add recording devices you don't control around your home.

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

#158

Post by davinic »

pmlnr wrote: post #8

I'm genuinely curious why only nest, alexa, google home[^1] devices get highlighted - aren't they all use the same tech as the Google App on android? Why are android phones not flagged as well? [^1]: https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=21262521

Siri is always enabled on iPhones by default.

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

#159

Post by Aunche »

saluki wrote: post #144
tantalor wrote: post #129

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Do you own a cell phone?

of course I do, it's alluded to in my comment: "(beyond what smartphones are already capable of)" I agree, smart phones provide the same surveillance capabilities of 'smart' speakers and more. But supposedly phones aren't always on and listening to all your audio like the 'smart' speakers. This might just be a divide in society, some people accept surveillance as not an issue and are fine with it. Would you place a s…

If you believe that your smartphone isn't always on, wouldn't it make sense that your smart speaker is also off until you give it a wake word?

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

#160

Post by callmeal »

irishloop wrote: post #141

I know it puts me in the minority, but I honestly do not care that much. It's obfuscation by volume. If Google wants to hear me and my roommate argue about Red Dead Redemption online or the new Bill Burr comedy special, good luck with that. When I worked in IT, people always used to say oh you can read my emails? Nobody wants to read about your boring-ass life. My understanding is they are using our speech to create…

>It's obfuscation by volume.

I find it hilarious that you mention this and completely disregard what google is famous for: search. Volume means nothing and relying on volume to hide in a crowd is basically impossible in today's world. Even the absence of data sends a signal, so when you turn off Alexa, that's when your surveillance will increase.

>If Google wants to hear me and my roommate argue about Red Dead Redemption online or the new Bill Burr comedy special, good luck with that.

Google doesn't care about that. But you can bet that the contractors they hire are deeply interested in the 3am conversation you had with/about your significant other.

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