Smart home devices have been recording conversations and sending them back to the tech company they came from. Amazon, Google and Apple have all admitted to the practice, saying its required for product development and that customers can opt out, although in many cases this is buried deep in long and confusing terms and conditions.
Legal and Policy Officer, Griff Ferris:
“Many of our worries about smart home devices appear to be proving true. The very nature of a smart home is one of ambient surveillance and constant recording, while major technology companies’ entire business models are built around surveillance, with terms of use deliberately set up to protect the company’s interests rather than the users’. People should think very carefully about the potential consequences before bringing one into their homes.”
The Telegraph: Amazon employees listen in to thousands of customer Alexa recordings