These home assistant things only seem useful to people who live extremely habitual lives. If you don't do things at the same time every day, all it gets you is voice control... which is just a silly gag with no real utility except perhaps for the disabled (for whom reaching the light switch or thermostat may be difficult).
We mostly use it to play music, but we also turn lights on and off in our home while we're at the cottage and vice versa. It's also nice to be able to turn the heat at the cottage down when we're not there and just say, "Alexa, set heat at the cottage to 68 degrees" and know the place will be warm when we arrive. The light we use most often in the living room is inconvenient to reach when you're laying on the couch under a pile of dogs, and it's nice to be able to ask what the weather will be while we're having breakfast so that we can plan the day.
So it does have a certain amount of utility for us. Nothing absolutely necessary, but it is convenient.
In particular, privacy. Amazon can sell your data to the cops, no warrant needed. This is a common practice--see the headlines daily. You gave it up, and have zero recourse if the government accesses it in the future .
Actually Amazon sells their customer data to **no one**. I work there, we're required to take periodic data security refresher courses, and customer data has the highest classification of anything. It's easier to get Jeff Bezos' personnel info.
The modern concept of 'privacy' is a historical aberration dating from the extremely recent period when the majority of people finally lived in cities large enough that their daily activities could be conducted relative anonymity. We've done without it for 99.999%
Okay, I'm glad you work there and trust their word.
I do not, am not going to, will not take their word. I won't buy their devices or have them in my house. That's my choice, and you're free to make yours. We both have different sets of available information and contexts.
I don't trust them a whit. You're free to. Also, while there may be no money involved per item of data, Amazon shares your data [mashable.com].
And while Amazon insists that it is "not in the business of selling [Information about our customers] to others," that doesn't mean the company isn't sharing it with others. As you recall, Facebook didn't sell any personal data to Cambridge Analytica, either. Rather, it allowed a researcher to use an app to gather that data which then made its way into the hands of the analytics company.
Amazon, of course, does share some customer data with third parties. The company's privacy page provides a few examples of companies that may end up with some of your Amazon data via their joint offerings: "Starbucks, OfficeMax, Verizon Wireless, Sprint, T-Mobile, AT&T, J&R Electronics, Eddie Bauer and Northern Tool + Equipment."
Outside of those forms of sharing, they do share with the government, in some cases with as little as a certifica
Amazon (and Microsoft) have suspended use of their facial recognition software by police forces for a year, requesting lawmakers clarify what is allowed and what is expected. Lawmakers, preferably at the Federal level because no one wants 50 different sets of rules, need to define what our society wants out of this technology. Personally I think they're overly optimistic expecting Congress to get through that in less than a year, but that really is what's needed at this point.
Actually Amazon sells their customer data to **no one**. I work there, we're required to take periodic data security refresher courses, and customer data has the highest classification of anything. It's easier to get Jeff Bezos' personnel info.
The modern concept of 'privacy' is a historical aberration dating from the extremely recent period when the majority of people finally lived in cities large enough that their daily activities could be conducted relative anonymity. We've done without it for 99.999% of our existence, and we'll do fine without it again.
Wait, so on the one hand you're saying that there is nothing suspicious going on at amazon in relation to privacy and on the other hand you're saying 'fuck privacy'.
Since you're giving the fuck-you finger to privacy then why would we trust your opinion on how well amazon is handling privacy?
And talking about the past, when in the past could some company from across the world know intimate details of what happens in your household?
Seems to me that working for amazon has made scrambled eggs of your brains.
Amazon guards customer privacy for two reasons, primarily because of customer trust and secondarily because of the competitive advantage it gives. For my part I personally think the first is a non-issue but I'm quite aware that others wouldn't agree. The second is definitely very important.
Scrambled eggs? Haven't you ever had to follow a rule at work that you thought was nonsense, but did it anyway because you had to? I have, lots of times in my career. I don't think this rule is actually nonsense, as
Sigh. (Score:5, Insightful)
Because what I want is a computer poorly second-guessing whether or not I want to turn a light on, or turn the heating up, without my knowledge.
Just... no.
Re: (Score:3)
These home assistant things only seem useful to people who live extremely habitual lives. If you don't do things at the same time every day, all it gets you is voice control... which is just a silly gag with no real utility except perhaps for the disabled (for whom reaching the light switch or thermostat may be difficult).
Re:Sigh. (Score:2)
We mostly use it to play music, but we also turn lights on and off in our home while we're at the cottage and vice versa. It's also nice to be able to turn the heat at the cottage down when we're not there and just say, "Alexa, set heat at the cottage to 68 degrees" and know the place will be warm when we arrive. The light we use most often in the living room is inconvenient to reach when you're laying on the couch under a pile of dogs, and it's nice to be able to ask what the weather will be while we're having breakfast so that we can plan the day.
So it does have a certain amount of utility for us. Nothing absolutely necessary, but it is convenient.
Re: (Score:2)
Those who would give up essential Liberty, to purchase a little temporary Convenience deserve neither Liberty nor Convenience.
That's you, in case you hadn't realized it. The convenience argument is, IMO, the lowest possible form of lizardry.
Re: (Score:2)
Hmm, interesting corruption of the original quote, but I'm curious as to what "liberty" you think I've given up.
Re: (Score:2)
In particular, privacy. Amazon can sell your data to the cops, no warrant needed. This is a common practice--see the headlines daily. You gave it up, and have zero recourse if the government accesses it in the future .
Re: (Score:2)
Actually Amazon sells their customer data to **no one**. I work there, we're required to take periodic data security refresher courses, and customer data has the highest classification of anything. It's easier to get Jeff Bezos' personnel info.
The modern concept of 'privacy' is a historical aberration dating from the extremely recent period when the majority of people finally lived in cities large enough that their daily activities could be conducted relative anonymity. We've done without it for 99.999%
Re: (Score:2)
Okay, I'm glad you work there and trust their word.
I do not, am not going to, will not take their word. I won't buy their devices or have them in my house. That's my choice, and you're free to make yours. We both have different sets of available information and contexts.
I don't trust them a whit. You're free to. Also, while there may be no money involved per item of data, Amazon shares your data [mashable.com].
And while Amazon insists that it is "not in the business of selling [Information about our customers] to others," that doesn't mean the company isn't sharing it with others. As you recall, Facebook didn't sell any personal data to Cambridge Analytica, either. Rather, it allowed a researcher to use an app to gather that data which then made its way into the hands of the analytics company.
Amazon, of course, does share some customer data with third parties. The company's privacy page provides a few examples of companies that may end up with some of your Amazon data via their joint offerings: "Starbucks, OfficeMax, Verizon Wireless, Sprint, T-Mobile, AT&T, J&R Electronics, Eddie Bauer and Northern Tool + Equipment."
Outside of those forms of sharing, they do share with the government, in some cases with as little as a certifica
Re: (Score:2)
Amazon (and Microsoft) have suspended use of their facial recognition software by police forces for a year, requesting lawmakers clarify what is allowed and what is expected. Lawmakers, preferably at the Federal level because no one wants 50 different sets of rules, need to define what our society wants out of this technology. Personally I think they're overly optimistic expecting Congress to get through that in less than a year, but that really is what's needed at this point.
Re: (Score:2)
Actually Amazon sells their customer data to **no one**. I work there, we're required to take periodic data security refresher courses, and customer data has the highest classification of anything. It's easier to get Jeff Bezos' personnel info.
The modern concept of 'privacy' is a historical aberration dating from the extremely recent period when the majority of people finally lived in cities large enough that their daily activities could be conducted relative anonymity. We've done without it for 99.999% of our existence, and we'll do fine without it again.
Wait, so on the one hand you're saying that there is nothing suspicious going on at amazon in relation to privacy and on the other hand you're saying 'fuck privacy'.
Since you're giving the fuck-you finger to privacy then why would we trust your opinion on how well amazon is handling privacy?
And talking about the past, when in the past could some company from across the world know intimate details of what happens in your household?
Seems to me that working for amazon has made scrambled eggs of your brains.
Re: (Score:2)
Amazon guards customer privacy for two reasons, primarily because of customer trust and secondarily because of the competitive advantage it gives. For my part I personally think the first is a non-issue but I'm quite aware that others wouldn't agree. The second is definitely very important.
Scrambled eggs? Haven't you ever had to follow a rule at work that you thought was nonsense, but did it anyway because you had to? I have, lots of times in my career. I don't think this rule is actually nonsense, as