A few weeks ago around smart TVs Samsung broke the scandal: they were too “smart.” As it turned out, Internet-connected TV record and send “voice commands and related texts” from the living room on the company’s servers, where passed certain “third parties”.
The situation with Smart TV – is not the first and
is not the only case where electronics “spying” for user “with
to evaluate and improve the service. “Whatever it was,
The Manufacturers reserve the right to “wiretap” as pass
collected information (including personal or private) to third
parties (including advertisers and analysts) for absolutely legitimate
grounds. Typically, these conditions are prescribed in the agreement that
The buyer must accept before using the product.
Not so obvious “spy” function,
usually enabled by default, and explaining their points of the document
not flaunt: often they are printed in small type at the last
pages or buried somewhere deep on our support website. Forbid
device “spying”, too, is difficult, if not only considerably
dig into the settings. Examples where gadgets and applications can
violate the interests of the user who cares about privacy, found
Vesti.Hi-tech.
Samsung Smart TV
The scandal surrounding the “smart” TVs TV Samsung arose February 2 columnist feed The Daily Beast Shane Harris. He cited the privacy policy of the company,
which states that “for voice recognition
some voice commands (along with information about your device,
including its identifier) can be transferred to a third-party service (hereinafter phrases in bold Vestyami.Hi-tech) ,
which converts speech into voice or code needed to work
Voice Recognition. In addition, Samsung may
collect, and your device can record voice commands and the texts , so that we can provide you with voice recognition, as well as assess and improve their work.
“Keep in mind that If you spoken words include personal or confidential information , this information will be among the data recorded and transmitted by a third party with your use of voice recognition “- warns Samsung.
The user can disable the collection of data on the voice recognition in any
time, “but the use of some functions of the recognition
voices will be impossible. “In addition, the company admits that she” is not responsible for the privacy practices or security applied by such service providers .
Be careful and study the privacy statement applicable to the
third-party web sites and services that you use “.
In addition to voice commands, smart TV collects
a lot of other information about its owner – “to improve the quality
recommendations offered in the service of SmartTV “. Along with the history of
searches and downloaded applications, they include the “ IP-address information stored in files cookie and similar technologies, information identifying your hardware or software configuration, information about the browser and the requested page “.
Thus, Samsung is entitled to know what you are looking for on the web and on what
sites visited. These data are collected, as well as voice commands can
off in the TV menu settings. In this case, however,
the user will not be able to receive personalized recommendations and its
Smart TV will cease to be so much “clever”.
In Samsung responded to the article The
Daily Beast just a few days later. “In all of our Smart TV we
adhere to industry standards for security measures and
practices including data encryption to prevent
unauthorized collection or use of personal information “, -
said the press service. On 10 February, the company posted an official blog post,
entitled as’ ‘smart’ TVs Samsung does not follow the conversation in
living. “It says that modern TV models have two
microphones: one is built directly into the TV, the other – in the remote
remote control.
The first microphone responds to simple
voice command (such as a handoff or adjustment
volume), which are not saved or sent “outside”. The second
microphone built into the remote control, Internet access is required for
processing of complex queries and nestandatrnyh. For example, when the user
wants to find something on the web, delivered them to the phrase goes on
the remote server where it is converted from speech to text (now
currently used technology Nuance Communications). “Is This
interaction is constructed in the same way as most services recognition
voices available on other products, including smartphones and tablets, “-
explained Samsung.
However, the reaction of the Korean
producer on “spy” scandal came too late and
insufficient to prevent reputational damage. The very next
day Senator Al Franken of Minnesota, wrote an open letter to the director general of the North American unit Samsung Gregory
Whether to clarify a number of formulations. In particular, it
asked whether the sole provider Nuance
the company and whether it imposes its partners restrictions on transfer
or sale of voice data.
LG Smart TV
Terms of LG,
one of the top contenders in the market Samsung smart TVs, little
much different from the policy of a competitor. The Korean manufacturer also
collects information about the device and its use, view, and
voice services. The collected data can be used “for
marketing purposes, “for internal record keeping” and “delivery
advertisements “.
” The scope of many devices LG Smart TV
includes remote control or input devices that can be controlled
voice commands … You should be aware that in the case
if your spoken word contains personal or other
sensitive information, such information will be recorded along with
Other information voice services in your use of voice recognition functions, “- said in the document.
” I also understand and agree that
LGE company may share information with third voice services
parties, including providers of analytic functions for
voice recognition “- warns LG, while stipulating (section
“Voice information”): “ We disclaim all responsibility for the disclosure of personal data due to errors in translation or unauthorized and unlawful acts of third persons”.
Xbox Kinect
In 2013, the contactless controller
Kinect for Xbox One game console received a major upgrade.
The device of the 2nd generation is equipped with a “big-eyed” and the camera
several microphones, which clearly recognize the voice commands.
Kinect also learned to work in the infrared spectrum, so that they can
use in dimly lit environments. In addition, the controller
can understand commands from six people simultaneously in
frame, and even read their pulse.
Although technologically advanced,
At first glance gadget Microsoft is less cause for
anxiety than smart TV. The agreement clarifies the company,
that the photo the user’s face is stored in the form of numbers and do not
transmitted: “The camera is used to execute the input. For this
A snapshot of your face and measured the distance between its key
points to create a one-of-a-kind numerical value
only represents you. Numerically impossible to guess
it is just for you. These authentication information
are stored on the console and not available to anyone “.
Kinect has the right to transfer information about
voice commands and gestures statistics about the user, but with its
resolution: “You can control what happens with photos
made during the gameplay, and whether the recording of voice
teams for product analysis. When Kinect is used in a number of
programs and games, your body language can be used in the evaluation
Statistics movements. You can decide how to manage your statistics and
whether to grant share it “.
However, the story with the” spy ”
scandal, which is based on the published Edward Snowden
documents made it clear that surveillance may occur without your knowledge
Microsoft. In February last year, the Guardian newspaper reported that
British division of the Government Communications (GCHQ – analogue
US National Security Agency) in 2008 led epidemic surveillance video chat users Yahoo.
Intelligence agencies are actively collected screenshots from web camera for at least
four years. During this time he managed to save the base of two million
confidential personnel, and many of them are embodied actions
sexual or “nudity”.
Guardian also wrote that GCHQ
considered the possibility of taking “under the hood” owners Kinect 2.0.
The company’s response was immediate. On the same day the developer
Windows made a statement:
“Microsoft has never heard about this program … However, we
concerned about any reports of governments that secretly collect
personal data of customers. That is why in December (2013 – approx. Vestey.Hi-tech) , we have taken extensive steps to ensure extended
Encryption our services …. “And in 2013, Microsoft has had to
comment on the information that GCQH and their colleagues from the NSA
overheard conversations in chat Xbox LIVE. “We know nothing about
any surveillance – then said to the press service, – If all
The situation is really as reported, it definitely makes
without our consent “.
Amazon Echo
In November 2014, Amazon announced a “smart” speaker Echo.
Black cylindrical shaped device that is connected to the “cloud”
is in constant anticipation of voice commands. You can ask for
example, to voice the weather forecast for a particular city, reproduce
music, read an article from the “Wikipedia” or set the alarm on
certain time. Built-in voice recognition system, which
employs just seven microphones, the ability to hear the command from another
end of the room, even if loud music playing. “These sensors are used
beamforming to hear you from any direction, “-
the company says.
In the Amazon site said,
Echo that really listens to what people say about, but
recording function and data transfer is enabled only when pronouncing
keyword (default is the “name” of the device – Alexa). At the same
the company recognizes that Echo also translates to the “cloud” of audio,
heard them “ a split second before pronouncing the keyword “. At any time the user can turn off the microphone and to remove from the “cloud” all records of his voice.
GM OnStar
Motorists that kind to
privacy issues are also worth to be alert. In July last year
General Motors has changed the terms of use
infotainment system OnStar, expanded character
it collected data. In the old version of the document was provided a section stating that “OnStar does not
tracks the location and movement speed by a constant
basis “. GM also insisted that” OnStar can not listen to or watch
conversations in the car without your knowledge “.
Among the new rules, these formulations have disappeared. But there was an item which gives the company the right
record data on “position, velocity, GPS, using the strap
security and other related information on the use of the vehicle
means. “In addition, GM has allowed itself” use the information for any purpose or share it with any third party “under the terms of anonymization.
Google Waze
Many motorists familiar navigation service Waze, which in the summer of 2013, owns Google.
The program allows you to run routes, learn about traffic jams, chambers
video monitoring, police stations and other objects on the road. Data
Waze to send the users themselves. Last week, the researcher
Safety Jonathan Zdzairaski expressed concern privacy policy service, calling it “frankly frightening”.
A close reading of the document it appears that the company is entitled to collect unique identifiers
user statistics about driving a car and sell it
information “in an anonymous and aggregated form” to third parties.
“You probably know that there is no such thing as anonymous
GPS-data, – says the expert. The agreement (last amended by
June 15, 2014) stipulates that the application collects not only
Statistics on daily route, but also “time to time” rewrites all the numbers from the phone book of its users, as well as records of their calendar .
Moreover, the collection comes from all mobile devices that are used as
Account Waze. This is done to improve the search function friends.
Hello Sense
This month Hello start
delivery Sense – “intelligent” alarm, which aims to improve the quality of
sleep. His microphone that records all the sounds in the bedroom, constantly
included, like Amazon Echo. So the device determines whether the night
Rest violated because any loud noises. Besides, Sense
fixes the temperature and humidity in the room, as well as
detects human movements during sleep (with the help of miniature
Sensor Sleep Pill, which is attached to the pillow). The project was funded on the site Kickstarter – it was supported by almost 20 thousand people are listed almost $ 2.5 million.
All sounds recorded Sense night
stored in the “cloud” and available to the user. They can listen to
after waking up. However, a close look at the privacy policy Hello, you can see that the company does not assume any responsibility when it comes to removing information. “… Hello assumes no responsibility or liability for the deletion or failure to store any information or other content,
stored or loaded in the service, “- said in agreement. There
indicates that the time during which information stored on servers
not limited in time.
Source: The Daily Beast, Samsungtomorrow.com, LGappstv.com, Fusion, Microsoft.com, Amazon.com, Waze.com
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