This risks embedding a culture of state surveillance in Amazon’s operations, which could have worrying consequences. Even the way citizens and police communicate is increasingly monitored and controlled by Amazon. Apple has a history of resisting FBI requests for user data, and Twitter is relatively transparent about reporting on how it responds to requests from governments.īut Ring, the internet-connected home-security camera company owned by Amazon, has a high-profile relationship with police that involves handing over user data. One area of concern is the potential for putting the ears of law enforcement in our homes, schools and workplaces. ![]() So the potential issues run much deeper than Alexa listening in on private moments. Amazon’s systems appear not just designed to collect as much data as they can but also to create ways of sharing it. This is, in part, because of the firm’s aggressive business model. Amazon doesn’t appear to be trying to do the same. While Apple and Google – who face their own privacy issues – have similar voice assistants, they have at least made progress running the software directly on their devices so they won’t need to transfer recordings of your voice commands to their servers. This technology gives Amazon a huge amount of control over your data, which has long been the aim of most of the tech giants. Some Echo devices already have cameras, and if facial recognition capabilities were added we could enter a world of pervasive monitoring in our most private spaces, even tracked as we move between locations. Alexa even features an art project (not created by Amazon) that tries to make light of this with the creepy “ Ask the Listeners” function that makes comments about just how much the device is spying on you. It is not a personal device but integrated into the home environment, always waiting to listen in. ![]() Some smartphones do this already, particularly those made by Google and Apple who control the hardware, software and cloud services.īut the difference with an Echo is that it brings together the worst aspects of smartphones and smart homes. Alexa knows what you are searching for, listening to or sending in your messages. The setup of the Echo turns Amazon into an extra gateway that every online interaction has to pass through, collecting data on each one. Major privacy concerns are starting to emerge in the way Alexa devices interact with other services – risking a dystopian spiral of increasing surveillance and control. Whether it is the amount of data they collect or the fact that they reportedly pay employees and, at times, external contractors from all over the world to listen to recordings to improve accuracy, the potential is there for sensitive personal information to be leaked through these devices.īut the risks extend not just to our relationship with Amazon. We’ll be rounding up all of the top offers right here.Amazon Echo and the Alexa voice assistant have had widely publicised issues with privacy. On the lookout for a different device? Amazon has also discounted its Fire TV sticks and Ring Video Doorbell, with more deals due on other products as the Prime Early Access Sale gets underway. Or if you fancy trying Prime and haven’t sampled it in the last 12 months, you can sign up for a 30-day free trial. The Echo Dot offer is available to everyone, but if you’re not a Prime member, you’ll need to spend a penny more on Amazon items to get free delivery. ![]() Or put one away for stocking-filler success come Christmas. And at £20, you can bag a couple for multi-room music and smarts throughout the house. Still, with a compact footprint, simple interface and tidy fabric finish, the Echo Dot (4th gen) is a neat addition to any shelf or surface. And Amazon’s UK website suggests that only the Charcoal version is available. The deal doesn’t apply to the Clock version, so visual feedback will be limited to the colour indicator light around the base.
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
AuthorWrite something about yourself. No need to be fancy, just an overview. ArchivesCategories |