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

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

#301

This devices should by law always have a big LED on when recording, you would have the option to set it's brightness though. Also why could it send data out without any confirmation from the user.

The trouble is that the LED would be lit 24/7 and become exactly as meaningful as the absence of a lit LED. These devices can't function without constantly recording to listen for trigger words or phrases.

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

#302
post #24

Earlier quoted context omitted.

What does "recording" mean in this context? The way these devices work is they're always "recording" in a loop on a secondary processor looking for the wake word. If we take this request literally the LED would never be off.

I'm not entirely sure that this would be a bad thing. It would set the expectation in customers' minds that the device is always listening, which is at least somewhat true.

No, it would just become a meaningless decorative light if it's on all the time and customers would pay no attention at all.

It's like the misguided Prop 65 signs that are in practically every commercial building in California so instead of warning people about dangerous levels of hazardous chemicals, they get a meaningless sign in every building for hazards that are no worse than if they were walking down the street or sitting at home.

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

#303
>>>But Danielle is hoping Amazon gives her a refund for her devices, which she said their representatives have been unwilling to do. She says she’s curious to find out if anyone else has experienced the same issue.

If that's true - that dumb greedy move is going to cost AMZN way more than simply giving customer refund.

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

#304

What actually happened: Alexa misinterpreted some voice commands and activated a "call" skill. The people involved and local news got very excited and escalated this into a conspiracy story. Amazon takes customer privacy EXTREMELY seriously. There's no way a team would get the "ok" to build a skill that randomly records private conversations then sends them to a random contact. It also doesn't make any logical sense…

> Yes, I might sound biased because I am an engineer at Amazon.

> This statement is my own and unrelated to Amazon's opinion.

Just because you admit your bias doesn't dismiss you from it. Your statement and opinion could very well be influenced by your work surroundings at Amazon. While I do not doubt that Amazon does take security and privacy seriously, I find it hard to believe that they employ proper ethics (based on this and past examples such as the NYT incident).

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

#305

I have this idea of a system I would like to have in my house. It contains cameras in every room that are constantly watching where people are and relaying the coordinates to a central server. That server makes decisions on if lights should be on or if A/C should be running in that room. But I would never buy this system. I would have to make it myself. I am hopeful that open source software and hardware can produce…

There's a whole class of tech like this for me. An Alexa/Echo/etc, a fitness tracker with GPS and sleep monitoring, a maps program that learns my routine and integrates with a weather app, and so on. And ideally? All of it integrated. It actually sounds nice to say "I'm going home", and have Maps say "today that will take 35, should your oven start preheating when you're 20 minutes out?" IoT devices are overrated, bu…

I like home automation but there are certain things I would never connect to the internet. Oven is one of them.

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

#306

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Might be cool to add thermal sensors to that, so the lights don't shut off because you're not moving enough.

If you're staying that still, you likely don't need room lights on. Why not just use an area/task light if you're performing a stationary task?

For people with glasses the reflections can be pretty bad. In addition I require bright cold-white neon light or I fall asleep.

By the way, German workplace safety regulations require a certain minimum of light at a workplace.

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

#307
post #290

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> I have this idea of a system I would like to have in my house. It contains cameras in every room that are constantly watching where people are and relaying the coordinates to a central server. That server makes decisions on if lights should be on or if A/C should be running in that room. But I would never buy this system. I would have to make it myself. I am hopeful that open source software and hardware can produc…

Your solution is simple. However, it doesn't allow for as much modification as the original poster's idea. With his idea it could be modified in so many ways to add functionality because it wouldn't be limited by the technology. The solution you supplied will eventually be limited by the technology if the original poster wants to add other functions.

Sure, but what is the value gain/opportunity cost between a simple, two hour installation that achieves a majority of the desired outcome with nearly rock-solid stability vs. sinking a massive amount of time into a bespoke and likely fragile system?

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

#308

I have this idea of a system I would like to have in my house. It contains cameras in every room that are constantly watching where people are and relaying the coordinates to a central server. That server makes decisions on if lights should be on or if A/C should be running in that room. But I would never buy this system. I would have to make it myself. I am hopeful that open source software and hardware can produce…

This is eerily similar to the concept of a 'cookie' seen in the Black Mirror episode, White Christmas. (Spoiler Alert)

A cookie is a device "that is inserted under the clients head by the brain and kept there for a week, giving it time to accurately replicate the individuals consciousness. It is then removed and installed in a larger, egg shaped device which can be connected to a computer or tablet (to automate their smart house controls as if the house was knew their personal preferences moving from room to room.)"

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

#309

Tangential point, but you would think that Amazon would have immediately given this woman the refund she asked for, rather than instead offering to take her through a technically complex de-provisioning process. It just makes them look even worse during the inevitable bad publicity that they had to know they were going to get from this.

[deleted]

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

#310
post #290

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> I have this idea of a system I would like to have in my house. It contains cameras in every room that are constantly watching where people are and relaying the coordinates to a central server. That server makes decisions on if lights should be on or if A/C should be running in that room. But I would never buy this system. I would have to make it myself. I am hopeful that open source software and hardware can produc…

Your solution is simple. However, it doesn't allow for as much modification as the original poster's idea. With his idea it could be modified in so many ways to add functionality because it wouldn't be limited by the technology. The solution you supplied will eventually be limited by the technology if the original poster wants to add other functions.

> However, it doesn't allow for as much modification as the original poster's idea.

My main point was the original poster's idea was probably focusing on the wrong kind of sensor for what he wanted to do. He could still network a bunch of motion sensors.

Also, I'd dispute the idea that my proposals were less "modifiable." If only because they're far easier to implement and a couple of orders of magnitude cheaper, so it's practical to replace if more capabilities are needed.

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