I've said it before and I'll say it again: I wish folks would take a realistic, nuanced approach to how Amazon, Google and others collect voice assistant data (and indeed, data in general).
On forums like these the conversation seems to be split between the "no big deal" camp and the "omg Amazon and Google are spying on you all the time" types who keep parroting the myth that smart speakers are recording every conversation. The truth, as with many things in life, is somewhere in between. Privacy is a concern, and we shouldn't pretend that tech companies aren't making dodgy decisions about how they handle data. At the same time, we shouldn't be making slippery slope arguments insisting that a dystopian hellscape is right around the corner. No, Amazon won't pitch counsellor services because it knows you fought with your partner last night.
You can take reasonable steps to protect your privacy without completely giving up on tech giants. And you can live with (some) privacy concerns while still campaigning to have them fixed. If you're uncomfortable with an Echo or Nest speaker in your home, by all means refuse to use one — just make sure that you're objecting based on real evidence, not irrational fears.
On forums like these the conversation seems to be split between the "no big deal" camp and the "omg Amazon and Google are spying on you all the time" types who keep parroting the myth that smart speakers are recording every conversation. The truth, as with many things in life, is somewhere in between. Privacy is a concern, and we shouldn't pretend that tech companies aren't making dodgy decisions about how they handle data. At the same time, we shouldn't be making slippery slope arguments insisting that a dystopian hellscape is right around the corner. No, Amazon won't pitch counsellor services because it knows you fought with your partner last night.
You can take reasonable steps to protect your privacy without completely giving up on tech giants. And you can live with (some) privacy concerns while still campaigning to have them fixed. If you're uncomfortable with an Echo or Nest speaker in your home, by all means refuse to use one — just make sure that you're objecting based on real evidence, not irrational fears.