Amazon's Alexa Echo Records & Sends Out Private Family Conversation

RadishRose

RadishRose

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Connecticut, USA
https://www.cbsnews.com/news/amazon-alexa-echo-device-recorded-conversation-sent-to-contact/

Amazon: Alexa Echo sent recorded conversation in "unlikely" string of events

SEATTLE -- An "unlikely" string of events prompted Amazon's Echo personal assistant device to record a Portland, Oregon, family's private conversation and then sent the recording to an acquaintance in Seattle, the company said Thursday.


A woman told CBS affiliate KIRO-TV that two weeks ago an employee of her husband contacted them to say he thought their device had been hacked. He told them he had received an audio file of them discussing hardwood floors, she said.


In a statement Thursday, Amazon confirmed the woman's private conversation had been inadvertently recorded and sent. The company said the device interpreted a word in the background conversation as "Alexa" -- a command that makes it wake up -- and then it interpreted the conversation as a "send message" request.


go to link for more

Should we be concerned?
 

RadishRose said:
https://www.cbsnews.com/news/amazon-alexa-echo-device-recorded-conversation-sent-to-contact/go to link for more
Should we be concerned?
Click to expand...

I am NOT a fan of some of these new gadgets. Anything that sends a signal through the "air" has the potential to be intercepted, or hacked. I don't even like WiFi, as anyone within range could "tune in", and capture your keystrokes. Devices that can be turned on/off remotely from a smart phone....home security systems, for example...would also present an opportunity for creative thieves. Technology is great...but some of this stuff that allows a person to literally run their lives from their couch comes with an increased risk for "misuse".
 
I don't know enough about Alexa to know if it works on a secured password like wifi does. That's why I don't even want to try it. Of course, I guess in some future time privacy and secured communications will just be laughed at and our only private moments will at the back of a barn at some farm. Brown-Eyed Girl anyone?
 

We have Alexa but don't use it much - mostly to get a weather report for back in Ohio. I have no worries about it from a security point of view.
 
I think that this type of technology may become more sophisticated and be of help to seniors that want to continue living independently.

If Alexa can evolve into a tool that can help to monitor daily routines, provide reminders, summon help, etc... it could be a very good thing.
 
We have Amazon echo...as well as Google Home. It's true, Alexa on Amazon echo will often start trying to answer a question when I'm in the middle of a conversation with someone in the room, even though we haven't addressed a question to Alexa. It picks something up in the tone of my voice or the way I pronounce words and thinks it's being asked a question.

I don't like it...

Google Home seems more stable..at least in this house!!...We use it for weather and traffic reports, reminders and alarms for things, and quiz games..all sorts really.

for example..when I was unwell enough to not be able to get up and move around very much after an Operation, I still needed to do some kind of exercise, so I asked google Home to play a certain favourite tune 2 minutes long , every 2 hours, and while sitting down I would exercise my arms and legs for that period.

I personally think it's a boon to those who live alone or have sight issues.. You can have it read to you, you can have a 'conversation'' with it..for those people who don't see or speak to anyone from one day to another.. For those who have sight issues it can read a newspaper or a book to them, it can remotely switch lights on, it can set reminders for doctors appointments, it can even call people for you....and there's probably more that I don't even know...so I would recommend it to anyone who lives alone especially...
 
.

Isn't it ironic how PR can take a Big Brother home monitoring device from Orwell's novel, 1984,
and turn it into something cool and trendy that most people will pay big bucks to install in their homes.

I live in a house that was built at the height of the American empire - 1967.

For the most part, I enjoy living a similar 1960s lifestyle that only really exists in my memory.

.
 
First; I abhor the name 'smart speaker'. It belies the fact that they only use their speaker when prompted, but are ALWAYS listening.

I see the appeal of them. But since I also see their potential, I really don't want one from Amazon or Google. I don't trust either of them.
I'm waiting to see what other manufacturers come up with.
 
I have no desire to use these devices, this isn't the first time I've heard of something like this violating people's privacy and security. I've been trying to disable the annoying Cortana on my windows 10 computer, things like this to me are just irritating. Even baby monitors have been hacked into. :(
 
SeaBreeze said:
...Even baby monitors have been hacked into. :(
Click to expand...
It's been going on for a long time...or maybe now they've fixed the problem but I bought a baby monitor in 1980. I lived in a Southern CA neighborhood. I was holding my baby in the living room when I heard baby sounds and people talking on my baby monitor. It wasn't my baby. I think it was from the people across the street. I tossed it, never to be used again.
 
Should we be concerned? Heck yeah! Amazon is a horrid corporation in every aspect - from helping to destroy local/regional economies, to the treatment of its workers and beyond. It tracks everything Kindle readers do on the devices/site from whether someone looks at the table of contents or lingers on a paragraph. Given its Cloud contract contract with the CIA, it's wise not to go near it.

Sadly, most Americans just want "their stuff". Very sad.
 
Jaime Insley said:
Should we be concerned? Heck yeah! Amazon is a horrid corporation in every aspect - from helping to destroy local/regional economies, to the treatment of its workers and beyond. It tracks everything Kindle readers do on the devices/site from whether someone looks at the table of contents or lingers on a paragraph. Given its Cloud contract contract with the CIA, it's wise not to go near it.

Sadly, most Americans just want "their stuff". Very sad.
Click to expand...

I wasn't aware of everything you said, specifically this arrangement with the CIA and the Cloud. I appreciate the information.

What did make me feel "sad" however, was your sweeping criticism that "...most Americans just want "their stuff". That comment was unnecessary and somewhat rude IMO.

Plenty of other countries use Amazon quite a lot.
 
RadishRose said:
I wasn't aware of everything you said, specifically this arrangement with the CIA and the Cloud. I appreciate the information.

What did make me feel "sad" however, was your sweeping criticism that "...most Americans just want "their stuff". That comment was unnecessary and somewhat rude IMO.

Plenty of other countries use Amazon quite a lot.
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"Rude" ?..matter of opinion...IMO..But...not without some truth .

We [America] have become an instant gratification I have the most toys nation.

Again opinion but,... I believe this has led to many of our problems.

Just look at the throngs of folks that just must have that latest smart-phone , that is SO! much better / fancier / more features than the last "latest" model that was introduced just SIX months ago.

Hell they sleep outside the night before just to be in line to get one at a ridiculous cost !
 
RGP, I I did say it was my opinion. (IMO)

The OP was about Amazon Echo sending out info.

Jaime took it off topic by bringing up a perception about American's "need for stuff." Please don't stir this further off topic. I know how you love a debate, so why not start a thread about your perceptions about American's passion for stuff in general? You can use your cell phone example as an opener.
Thanks, RGP.
 
This is the thing in a digital age. Once the information is there it is open to theft or abuse wether by design or accident. The more digitized information the more chance something 'else' will happen to it. Basic odds or probability simply because there is more of it.
 
WhatInThe said:
This is the thing in a digital age. Once the information is there it is open to theft or abuse wether by design or accident. The more digitized information the more chance something 'else' will happen to it. Basic odds or probability simply because there is more of it.
Click to expand...

Personally, I have nothing to hide but I understand your point- innocent remarks or conversation can be misconstrued or confused by someone else to result in a scary scene. Doubtful, but not impossible.

Those who do have something to hide may be more easily found out.
 
RadishRose said:
RGP, I I did say it was my opinion. (IMO)

The OP was about Amazon Echo sending out info.

Jaime took it off topic by bringing up a perception about American's "need for stuff." Please don't stir this further off topic. I know how you love a debate, so why not start a thread about your perceptions about American's passion for stuff in general? You can use your cell phone example as an opener.
Thanks, RGP.
Click to expand...


Stir?...I did not "stir" anything....I merely responded to a post, a statement within a post.

As for...."I know how you love a debate,"

We've never even met, & yet you propose to "know" what I love?

Clairvoyant are ya ?

Just because I find some truth, and agree to some degree with the other member . I am "stirring" ? & promoting a debate ?

So then if instead I posted a reply, agreeing with you completely...that would be welcomed & OK ?
 
As far as I know, Siri has kept her mouth shut.

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