Alexa is always listening!
Thread Rating:
January 11th, 2017 at 12:46:40 PM
permalink
Police are asking Amazon to help solve a murder case. Why? Because Alexa is always listening! Privacy Concerns.
https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/the-switch/wp/2016/12/28/can-alexa-help-solve-a-murder-police-think-so-but-amazon-wont-give-up-her-data/?utm_term=.e6d30ecf7d74
https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/the-switch/wp/2016/12/28/can-alexa-help-solve-a-murder-police-think-so-but-amazon-wont-give-up-her-data/?utm_term=.e6d30ecf7d74
'Winners hit n run... Losers stick around'
January 11th, 2017 at 12:55:10 PM
permalink
Sigh, this is where unfortunately things look to be heading... People create devices that perform MORE than their desired tasks (by 'always' listening, etc) and then police figure out this stolen privacy is available and because it's to solve a case it's "okay" to open the gates to peoples privacy... Giving police more power and taking away more rights/privacy from citizens. This is a process that just keeps happening until we no longer have ANY privacy and any/all government employees or city officials will have whatever power over us they want, instead of serving us.
Playing it correctly means you've already won.
January 11th, 2017 at 1:12:06 PM
permalink
Quote: RomesSigh, this is where unfortunately things look to be heading... People create devices that perform MORE than their desired tasks (by 'always' listening, etc) and then police figure out this stolen privacy is available and because it's to solve a case it's "okay" to open the gates to peoples privacy... Giving police more power and taking away more rights/privacy from citizens. This is a process that just keeps happening until we no longer have ANY privacy and any/all government employees or city officials will have whatever power over us they want, instead of serving us.
Next... micro chips will be implanted in all new borns, tracking human's every move!
'Winners hit n run... Losers stick around'
January 11th, 2017 at 1:18:55 PM
permalink
The sky is falling.....
The older I get, the better I recall things that never happened
January 11th, 2017 at 4:23:14 PM
permalink
Yes, this and some recent incidents have been discussed at DiversityTommorow.
One six year old girl told Alexa to order her a Doll from Amazon. A newscaster in san diego read the story and his broadcast activated several San Diego residents Alexas which also tried to order a doll.
Welcome to Brave New World.... its pretty much like the old one.
One six year old girl told Alexa to order her a Doll from Amazon. A newscaster in san diego read the story and his broadcast activated several San Diego residents Alexas which also tried to order a doll.
Welcome to Brave New World.... its pretty much like the old one.
March 18th, 2025 at 2:34:05 PM
permalink
https://www.wired.com/story/everything-you-say-to-your-echo-will-be-sent-to-amazon-starting-march-28/
Alexa will listen more soon, and you can only stop it by turning it off entirely.
Best of luck!
(Remember - Apple, Google, and Facebook have similar devices, and you can expect their terms of service to align soon enough.)
Alexa will listen more soon, and you can only stop it by turning it off entirely.
Best of luck!
(Remember - Apple, Google, and Facebook have similar devices, and you can expect their terms of service to align soon enough.)
May the cards fall in your favor.
March 18th, 2025 at 3:39:08 PM
permalink
I get the utility/convenience, However I just can't knowingly invite a spy into my house.
March 18th, 2025 at 4:02:58 PM
permalink
Instead of writing down my random thoughts, I can let Alexa do it for me. In a hundred years, will my great-grandchildren be able to buy the greatest hits of my musings? Perhaps someone will hear my kick-ass version of Night Changes and make me a star.
The older I get, the better I recall things that never happened
March 18th, 2025 at 4:06:29 PM
permalink
I just asked Alexa when she was listening, and she told me that she only passed along information when her ring was blue.
The older I get, the better I recall things that never happened
March 18th, 2025 at 4:35:49 PM
permalink
My first time tuning into the '60's channel on SiriusXM and Tommy James (of the Shondells) was on. Later on I got this first song on my way to a 2nd store.
Jim Reeves - He'll Have To Go (1959) - (Answer) - Jeanne Black - He'll Have To Stay.
Makes me think the mics in my car are on for this to be happening.
Jim Reeves - He'll Have To Go (1959) - (Answer) - Jeanne Black - He'll Have To Stay.
Makes me think the mics in my car are on for this to be happening.
March 18th, 2025 at 4:54:57 PM
permalink
Be Pure.
Be Vigilant.
Behave.
Be Vigilant.
Behave.
The older I get, the better I recall things that never happened
March 18th, 2025 at 8:15:55 PM
permalink
After a free trial period, Alexa Plus will be $19.99 a month for the general public but free with an Amazon Prime membership, which currently runs $119 a year.
I mentioned I ate at Taco Bell earlier today. Somebody else paid for it and I was not in my car. I opened up Yahoo News and was greeted with a Taco Bell ad. Coincidence?
I mentioned I ate at Taco Bell earlier today. Somebody else paid for it and I was not in my car. I opened up Yahoo News and was greeted with a Taco Bell ad. Coincidence?
The older I get, the better I recall things that never happened
March 18th, 2025 at 8:24:45 PM
permalink
People have been talking about ads directed at them based on conversations in the vicinity of their phones for over 10 years now.
Usually a Google search brings on the ads for me. Just one little turn on the internet and the algorithm shifts and shows me more of what I was last looking at, especially on YouTube.
I guess I could get Alexa for free with Prime if I wanted to, but I'm trying to fend off the intrusive surveillance. I don't even use the voice activation on my TV remotes.
Usually a Google search brings on the ads for me. Just one little turn on the internet and the algorithm shifts and shows me more of what I was last looking at, especially on YouTube.
I guess I could get Alexa for free with Prime if I wanted to, but I'm trying to fend off the intrusive surveillance. I don't even use the voice activation on my TV remotes.
March 19th, 2025 at 7:40:26 AM
permalink
Quote: billryanAfter a free trial period, Alexa Plus will be $19.99 a month for the general public but free with an Amazon Prime membership, which currently runs $119 a year.
I mentioned I ate at Taco Bell earlier today. Somebody else paid for it and I was not in my car. I opened up Yahoo News and was greeted with a Taco Bell ad. Coincidence?
link to original post
Hmm. A Woman said she was taking a shower and looked at the tiles in her bathtub and thought,"My bathtub could use a REALLY good tile grouting. After her shower, she went on Google and didn't search for tile grouting services, but got offered links to tile grouting services and was wondering if Google could read minds! 😳😱
In both The Hunger Games and in gambling, may the odds be ever in your favor. :D
"Man Babes" #AxelFabulous
"Olive oil is processed but it only has one
ingredient, olive oil."-Even Bob, March 27/28th. :D The 2 year war is over! Woo-hoo! :D
I sometimes speak in metaphors. ;) Remember this. ;)
Crack the code. :D 8.9.13.25.14.1.13.5.9.19.14.1.20.8.1.14! :D
"For about the 4096th time, let me offer a radical idea to those of you who don't like Nathan -- block her and don't visit Nathan's Corner. What is so complicated about it?" Wizard, August 21st. :D
March 19th, 2025 at 8:25:07 AM
permalink
Often, I will think of something absurdly obscure, and after typing in the first few letters, it will pop up as an option. Chrome, especially, seems very intuitive.
The older I get, the better I recall things that never happened
March 19th, 2025 at 8:29:09 AM
permalink
Quote: billryanOften, I will think of something absurdly obscure, and after typing in the first few letters, it will pop up as an option. Chrome, especially, seems very intuitive.
link to original post
Any chance that your personal wiretap assistant is listening to the same NLP cues you are, and making the same inferences?
May the cards fall in your favor.
March 19th, 2025 at 9:05:03 AM
permalink
I have no idea. Let me give you an example. I was scrolling through YouTube on my television, watching some shorts. One was from a movie called Seraphim Falls. A few days go by, and I want to watch the movie, but I don't know where it is streaming.
When I type Ser into my Chrome, of the multitudes of words that start with those three letters, the movie is the seventh choice.
Not only are there over 400 words that start with those letters, but there are also hundreds of organizations that start with Service. I was concerned about the spelling, but all I needed was ser.
If you type Ser into your search engine, does the movie pop up?
When I type Ser into my Chrome, of the multitudes of words that start with those three letters, the movie is the seventh choice.
Not only are there over 400 words that start with those letters, but there are also hundreds of organizations that start with Service. I was concerned about the spelling, but all I needed was ser.
If you type Ser into your search engine, does the movie pop up?
The older I get, the better I recall things that never happened
March 19th, 2025 at 10:21:47 AM
permalink
Quote: billryan
If you type Ser into your search engine, does the movie pop up?
link to original post
Not even close, but Google seems to be choosing weird results from 3 letters.
Is it ser or Sir for a knight?
And in the real world, 'sir' is the title given to knights. Feb 4, 2013
March 19th, 2025 at 10:26:53 AM
permalink
I use my phone very little but it is always sitting on my desk or nightstand next to me. I have never noticed anything on the phone where I assumed it was listening (other than when the word Siri is used and it comes alive).
My phone tells me my average screen time per day do others do that or is that some feature that I have turned on. I assume most people is pretty high but mine is 7 minutes a day.
My phone tells me my average screen time per day do others do that or is that some feature that I have turned on. I assume most people is pretty high but mine is 7 minutes a day.
You can't know everything, but you can know anything.
March 19th, 2025 at 11:13:18 AM
permalink
Quote: billryanI have no idea. Let me give you an example. I was scrolling through YouTube on my television, watching some shorts. One was from a movie called Seraphim Falls. A few days go by, and I want to watch the movie, but I don't know where it is streaming.
When I type Ser into my Chrome, of the multitudes of words that start with those three letters, the movie is the seventh choice.
Not only are there over 400 words that start with those letters, but there are also hundreds of organizations that start with Service. I was concerned about the spelling, but all I needed was ser.
If you type Ser into your search engine, does the movie pop up?
link to original post
So, you were watching a movie that the title started with "ser" on YouTube (a Google facet), presumably somehow linked to your Google identity (account), and then when you searched later for "ser", the thing you were looking for was found, possibly in your history?
(No, "ser" pops up a brand of casino giveaway kitchenware, due to my activity history.)
May the cards fall in your favor.
March 19th, 2025 at 11:37:29 AM
permalink
No, I was interested in that movie and scrolling through YouTube shorts about dramatic showdowns. This particular scene flashed the films title.
The older I get, the better I recall things that never happened
