Hey Siri! Are you spying on me?…
In today’s tech-driven world, virtual assistants like Amazon’s Alexa, Google’s Nest, and Apple’s Siri have become commonplace in households worldwide. These voice-activated devices offer instant access to news, weather, music and other entertainment. Even though most people have computers, and portable devices like tablets and mobile phones that give access to such features at a few taps of a touchscreen, the convenience of using our voices alone to access these is so appealing. Growing up watching science fiction like 2001 A Space Odyssey, Star Trek or Red Dwarf has shown us a futuristic world where we can speak to computers and they’ll speak back. Not only will they speak back, but they’ll answer questions and solve all kinds of problems for us. But what if they could be causing problems too?
The rise of these virtual personal assistant devices brings forth potential dangers that users should be aware of. Without getting too deep into the world of conspiracy theories and claim that Big Brother is watching us all, lets dig into some of the potential risks and concerns associated with Alexa-type devices.
Privacy Invasion
One of the biggest concerns surrounding virtual assistants is the potential invasion of privacy. Virtual assistants always need to be listening for their wake words, which means they are constantly capturing snippets of our conversations. If you’ve got any of these kinds of devices, I’m sure you will have experienced at some point or another that the device suddenly speaks when you haven’t been speaking to it. Why does it do this? The simple answer is that has misheard something you said, or maybe picked up some words from the television. Right?
Whatever the cause, the fact is the device spoke because it ‘thought’ it was being asked to respond because it was listening. While companies claim that these devices aren’t recording and no one is able to hear or see inside of your home, the possibility of unauthorized access or data breaches raises valid concerns about personal privacy and security. How do we know they aren’t listening or filming? There is a reason why the devices of this nature that feature cameras have physical sliders to block the lens of the built in cameras. Are these there purely for our peace of mind? Or are they there because there is the potential of risk?
Data Security and Third-Party Access
The data collected by virtual assistants often goes beyond voice commands and includes personal preferences, search history, and even home automation settings. As somewhat of a creepy thought, it’s possible that over time, your virtual personal assistant may get to know you better than your loved ones. It’s possible that these devices may come to understand you better than you understand yourself.
The risk here is that knowledge is power, and detailed knowledge of when you get up in the morning, your shopping orders, schedule and to do list, music tastes, and God knows what else can be valuable information to third parties. Companies sell this information for targeted advertising or potentially more malicious purposes. The risk of data breaches and unauthorized access raises questions about how securely this data is stored and who has access to it.
Always-On Surveillance
By design, these devices are always listening, and waiting for their activation commands. While the intention is to provide instantaneous assistance, the constant monitoring can make users feel as if their privacy is compromised. Concerns arise regarding whether these devices can record and transmit conversations, sounds or videos unintentionally, leading to potential privacy violations or misuse of sensitive information. Even if it’s not some conspiracy of people spying on you, how many times have people been on Zoom and accidently left it on to leave a window open into our living or bedrooms? If these devices can be activated by mishearing wake words how can we be certain we’re not doing something that connects our audio or video to the outside world?
Dependency and Surveillance Culture
The increasing reliance on virtual assistants may contribute to a surveillance culture, where the concept of privacy becomes less important. The convenience and seamlessness of using these devices can lead users to overlook or become desensitized to potential privacy risks, ultimately eroding the importance of personal boundaries and control over our own information. Some years ago people were more sceptical of these devices before they became commonplace. Nowadays there is a growing attitude of ‘what does it matter if it listens to me? I’m not that important.’
People don’t believe they’re at risk because their day to day lives doesn’t seem like it would have any value in spying on. But over a number of years the data that could be learned from your actions could leave you open to manipulation or worse. Is that person who seems ever so nice and you click with really a result of the meeting of minds? Or have they had an insight into your private life.
So, what should you do?
While virtual assistants offer undeniable convenience and functionality, it is crucial to be aware of the potential dangers they bring. I’m sure almost everyone reading this won’t bat an eyelid before continuing to ask Siri or Google or Alexa for the next reminder or song request. But the risks associated with privacy invasion, data security, always-on surveillance, misinterpretation, and the perpetuation of a surveillance culture should not be taken lightly.
As users, it is important to make informed decisions about the use of these devices, including understanding and implementing the built in privacy settings. Read any manuals, and check online for various websites that may recommend how to stay safe with such devices. By staying vigilant and informed, users can strike a balance between the benefits and potential risks of incorporating personal assistant devices into their lives.
Learning to be safe will keep you safe until Skynet eventually takes over as predicted in The Terminator.
I’m kidding of course…or am I?
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