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Orwell would be proud
15/4/19 21:42![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
airiefairieIf you ask Alexa, Amazon's voice assistant, "Are you a spy?", she will answer, "No. The safety of your personal data is important to me".
Just how important it is exactly, we did learn these days when it transpired that Amazon was spying thousands of conversations without their clients' consent. The company has already admitted to it:
Here's how the Alexa spying scandal could become Amazon's worst nightmare
Of course, Amazon's excuse is that they are trying to improve their customer service. Except, if that is really the case, then their customer service is more important than the protection of their customers' privacy. Because it is not just official queries starting with a vocal address to Alexa that have been eavesdropped. Bloomberg reports that the spying was indiscriminate: from singing in the shower to children's cries for help, to supposed sexual assault.
( Read more... )
Just how important it is exactly, we did learn these days when it transpired that Amazon was spying thousands of conversations without their clients' consent. The company has already admitted to it:
Here's how the Alexa spying scandal could become Amazon's worst nightmare
Of course, Amazon's excuse is that they are trying to improve their customer service. Except, if that is really the case, then their customer service is more important than the protection of their customers' privacy. Because it is not just official queries starting with a vocal address to Alexa that have been eavesdropped. Bloomberg reports that the spying was indiscriminate: from singing in the shower to children's cries for help, to supposed sexual assault.
( Read more... )
