Amazon has disabled two key privacy features in its Alexa smart speakers, in a push to introduce artificial intelligence-powered “agentic capabilities” and turn a profit from the popular devices.

  • YarHarSuperstar@lemmy.world
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    5 days ago

    But if it’s listening for “Alexa” and that listening happens in Amazon’s cloud server, they could record everything that is happening at all times with very little extra work.

    • Terrasque@infosec.pub
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      4 days ago

      Trigger word analysis happens locally. It’s when that’s triggered that audio gets sent to cloud

    • recall519@lemm.ee
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      5 days ago

      That’s always been the case, and it still a potential security issue. Remember when the NSA was tapping webcams without even turning the light on. Anything plugged in with a speaker or camera like your TV, your remote, your computer, etc. is potentially vulnerable.

      • YarHarSuperstar@lemmy.world
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        5 days ago

        Yes I absolutely agree. Just pointing out that the comment I replied to is false, it gives me the impression that the author thinks that they aren’t being spied on by Amazon when they certainly are.

    • LovableSidekick@lemmy.world
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      5 days ago

      Of course, and for all we know they’re already recording everything Alexa hears, so there doesn’t seem to be any reason to fuss over this announcement.