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I don't doubt its real. I question the fact that we've ended up in this situation: spying devices laughing at their users. And we got here by way of technolog

by mmjaa 9y ago

I don't doubt its real. I question the fact that we've ended up in this situation: spying devices laughing at their users. And we got here by way of technological apathy towards the ethics issues. And .. We are still here. Everyone thinks its okay, because "entrepreneurial triumph", and so on.. We need to step back from this abyss and take a good hard look at what we're making.

Johnny555 9y ago
I don't understand why many people keep acting like these devices are some sort of sinister spying device that's far worse than anything imagined. Yet we all carry a far more capable mobile spying device (with audio recording, video+photo capture, and even GPS tracking all built-in) in our pockets and keep it within arms reach at all times. At least with an Echo you can look at the traffic volume it sends through your Wifi connection to get some sense of when it's sending audio back home but you can't easily audit the traffic your phone sends, you only know what the phone and your carrier report to you. At least with the Echo, I can be pretty sure that it's only running Amazon software, while that free game I just downloaded might be taking a photo of me right now.
- tinus_hn 9y ago
  Actually ‘that free game’ can’t access my camera unless I give it permission.
- mmjaa 9y ago
  Your point of view is entirely the reason why I'm so upset at these spying devices. Because you have reasoned that it is acceptable to not have control over who/what observes your life, in the pursuit of .. convenience and leisure .. Yes, we have lost control over our platforms. Some of us remember a time when it really was the user in control. However, there are now generations of users who simply don't care, they just want the fancy new shit that means they don't have to get off the couch. And, so on. (Plus, please see the aforementioned Max Headrom, by way of levity...)
- whatyoucantsay 9y ago
  > Yet we all carry a far more capable mobile spying device (with audio recording, video+photo capture, and even GPS tracking all built-in) in our pockets and keep it within arms reach at all times. Some of us have more sense than to do that.

by mmjaa 9y ago

Johnny555 9y ago

I don't understand why many people keep acting like these devices are some sort of sinister spying device that's far worse than anything imagined. Yet we all carry a far more capable mobile spying device (with audio recording, video+photo capture, and even GPS tracking all built-in) in our pockets and keep it within arms reach at all times. At least with an Echo you can look at the traffic volume it sends through your Wifi connection to get some sense of when it's sending audio back home but you can't easily audit the traffic your phone sends, you only know what the phone and your carrier report to you. At least with the Echo, I can be pretty sure that it's only running Amazon software, while that free game I just downloaded might be taking a photo of me right now.

tinus_hn 9y ago
Actually ‘that free game’ can’t access my camera unless I give it permission.
mmjaa 9y ago
Your point of view is entirely the reason why I'm so upset at these spying devices. Because you have reasoned that it is acceptable to not have control over who/what observes your life, in the pursuit of .. convenience and leisure .. Yes, we have lost control over our platforms. Some of us remember a time when it really was the user in control. However, there are now generations of users who simply don't care, they just want the fancy new shit that means they don't have to get off the couch. And, so on. (Plus, please see the aforementioned Max Headrom, by way of levity...)
whatyoucantsay 9y ago
> Yet we all carry a far more capable mobile spying device (with audio recording, video+photo capture, and even GPS tracking all built-in) in our pockets and keep it within arms reach at all times. Some of us have more sense than to do that.