Google and Amazon are not the only companies to take the trouble to listen to your private conversations



[ad_1]

New fears for privacy technologies

Gary B. Smith, President of Kadina Group, Lauren Simonetti of FOX Business, Adam Lashinsky Lashinsky, Editor-in-Chief of Fortune, and MaxFunds Founder Jonas Max Ferris, wonder if the advancement of technology is forcing the past to become a reality.

Privacy can be more difficult to obtain if you want the luxury of an automated personal assistant or even an interactive toy.

In response to an article in the Wall Street Journal this week, Google has confirmed that it allows third-party contractors to access recordings of conversations that people had with Google Assistant. The program is used on various Android devices and on its Google Home speakers.

The biggest search engine in the world, explained in a blog post entrepreneurs listened to 0.2% of what they described as "audio snippets".

Google has stated that it has allowed access to help subcontractors to ensure that the virtual assistant understands more language dynamics, such as different accents and dialects.

MORE FOXBUSINESS.COM …

But Google is not the only company to take action to violate the privacy of its customers.

Amazon and other companies have also been criticized for their treatment of users' personal data.

Below you will find an overview of the most recent reactions from companies offering products that have collected user information:

My friend cayla

In 2016, reports were received that the children's doll, which uses voice recognition technology to converse, "spied" on children who played it.

Genesis Toys, the company that makes the voice recognition toy, explains in terms of services that a recording device transmits the conversations to Nuance Communications.

Although Genesis did not directly comment on the case, Nuance said in a statement to the Washington Post that the company did not share the data collected with marketers or other third parties.

Hello Barbie

The Mattel doll uses similar voice recognition capabilities to meet the kids playing with it.

ToyTalk, the company that supplies the doll's software, said in a statement to The Guardian that the conversations recorded by the program were aimed at improving language processing functionality.

TicTocTrack smart watch

Last month, a security breach revealed that the product, sold in Australia, could give hackers the ability to listen, call and follow children.

Amazon Alexa

The company would employ a review process that involves subcontractors and full-time employees charged with listening to thousands of clips per shift.

A report from the Associated Press described some of the conversations going on from a woman singing the key in the shower to a child calling for help.

Child protection groups also filed a complaint with the Federal Trade Commission, alleging that the company had violated some of the privacy protections of families using Echo Dot Kids.

In May, Amazon announced new privacy protections for its Alexa-enabled devices.

By using the command "Alexa, delete everything I said today," the device will delete the records of the day.

CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX BUSINESS APP

Amazon, Apple, Facebook and Google will testify at Capitol Hill next week during a hearing at which lawmakers will likely address the topic of privacy protection.

[ad_2]

Source link