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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

#421

Post by aero142 »

illumin8 wrote: post #297
aero142 wrote: post #117

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Not parent, but I'll answer. 1) The implementation of the wake word recognition is implemented in hardware that cannot be updated remotely. 2) The device is unable to transmit information without lighting up a TX light. Implemented in unmodifiable hardware. 3) Voice recordings are processed and then deleted within one month. 4) The device is run by a company that doesn't make money through marketing or data analysis.

Be honest, even if the manufacturer tells you #1 is true you're not going to believe them. You're setting up an impossible set of demands that no manufacturer is going to meet and no consumer really cares about (other than perhaps yourself and a few tinfoil hat wearing crypto-anarchists).

The iPhone hardware meets my standards. The secure enclave for touchID is detailed in it's description and security. The Apple business model is not data collection, and the legal fights they have put up give me a reasonable belief that they take my security and privacy seriously enough for me. They are also printing money so it seems to be workable as part of a business model. I think you are wrong on all accounts.

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

#422

Post by illumin8 »

aero142 wrote: post #421
illumin8 wrote: post #297

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Be honest, even if the manufacturer tells you #1 is true you're not going to believe them. You're setting up an impossible set of demands that no manufacturer is going to meet and no consumer really cares about (other than perhaps yourself and a few tinfoil hat wearing crypto-anarchists).

The iPhone hardware meets my standards. The secure enclave for touchID is detailed in it's description and security. The Apple business model is not data collection, and the legal fights they have put up give me a reasonable belief that they take my security and privacy seriously enough for me. They are also printing money so it seems to be workable as part of a business model. I think you are wrong on all accounts.

I think you misread my comment. I'm actually a huge fan of the secure enclave and the way that Apple protects customer privacy. What I was commenting on was the distrust a lot of people have, combined with a lack of knowledge about how the hardware works. For example, Amazon's echo devices have a physical circuit that disconnects the microphone when you mute it. They could have done it in software, but wanted to break the physical circuit so that there was no question in customers minds whether the device was still listening or not when it was muted.

I trust Amazon as much as I do Apple to protect customer privacy.

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

#423

Post by mlindner »

bduerst wrote: post #197
mlindner wrote: post #190

Earlier quoted context omitted.

This is false. iCloud data doesn't contain phone call contents or iMessage data contents. Yes they gave access to metadata, but this is China where privacy basically doesn't exist, not a western country.

Wrong - Apple moved all iCloud data, which includes text messages, email and other data stored in iCloud (according to Reuters) as well as the access keys. Apple even forced users to sign the updated TOS or drop service. The Chinese government access is _not_ limited to metadata. https://www.reuters.com/article/us-china-apple-icloud-insigh...

Text messages are not stored in iCloud...

https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT202303

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

#424

Post by thfuran »

schwank wrote: post #99
thfuran wrote: post #32

Earlier quoted context omitted.

>Voice-first devices are long overdue. Sure, that's not really anything that anyone disagrees with. It's the acceptance of data collection and exfiltration that is odd.

I would disagree. I despise voice interfaces and despite working for one of the major tech companies that build these devices and interfaces, I use exactly zero. I do trust my employer to do it correctly based on the processes I witness every single day, but I don't own any because I don't like voice interfaces. Remote control on my phone, sure. Clicking the button to change a song, sure. But no voice, thanks.

You dislike the very idea of voice interfaces or the current state of voice interfaces?
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