“Hey Alexa, write this blog for me.”

“I Only Listen When You’re Talking to Me”

Generally, virtual assistants like Alexa, Siri, and Google Assistant only record audio when someone uses the wake command (ex. “Hey, Google”). Apple’s Siri has even been programmed to give a jokey response if you ask whether the device is always listening, claiming she only listens when you’re talking to her.

Anonymity Not Guaranteed

However, that doesn’t necessarily mean these recordings are anonymous. The contractors who spoke to The Guardian noted that they sometimes heard full names, bank account numbers, and other sensitive personal information.

No More Human Review, For Now

As privacy concerns grow across the globe relating to digital assistants, all three companies will likely need to complete an overhaul of procedures surrounding voice recordings. If the human review of recordings is to continue, the companies using it will need specific methods for managing user data as well as for contractors to report sensitive information.

  • AT&T Facing A Lawsuit for Selling Customer Location Data (FindLaw’s Technologist)
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