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Alexa uses the data we give to it by speaking and performing actions via downloaded skills - is very similar to all ad platforms, conveying user intent into ad

by yunohn 5y ago

Alexa uses the data we give to it by speaking and performing actions via downloaded skills - is very similar to all ad platforms, conveying user intent into ad profiles. Saying “process voice for ads” has subtle connotations in the current landscape of privacy discussions.

fddhjjj 5y ago
As clarification, you are objecting to the phrase “process voice to [serve] ads” in the title which was provided by the submitter not the paper authors?
- yunohn 5y ago
  From the abstract: > We find that Amazon processes voice data to infer user interests and uses it to serve targeted ads on-platform
anon4272728 5y ago
Unlike other ad platforms, Amazon claims that they do not use voice data for ad targeting. From paper: Amazon has publicly stated that it does not use voice data for targeted advertisements [83], [75]. https://www.nbcmiami.com/news/local/are-smart-speakers-planting-ads-on-our-social-media-profiles/157153/ https://www.nbcmiami.com/news/local/are-smart-speakers-plant...
- i_am_jl 5y ago
  I'm sure Amazon isn't processing voice data to target ads. Why would they need to? They're using skill interaction, order history, listening history, etc to target ads.
mannykannot 5y ago
"Subtle connotations" are not much to make an objective complaint out of.
bradleybuda 5y ago
For example, this sibling comment: https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=31178067 https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=31178067
slg 5y ago
>Alexa uses the data we give to it by speaking and performing actions via downloaded skills - is very similar to all ad platforms, conveying user intent into ad profiles. There is an argument that this is more privacy conscience than other ad platforms. One needs to say the word "Alexa" before Amazon will collect any potential targeting data. There is an active and distinct choice that must be made before every interaction. That isn't true for Google and Facebook. They will collect data in the background while you are doing other things. There is much less transparency in when and how they are collecting their targeting data and therefore we have much less agency in the process.

by yunohn 5y ago

fddhjjj 5y ago

As clarification, you are objecting to the phrase “process voice to [serve] ads” in the title which was provided by the submitter not the paper authors?

yunohn 5y ago
From the abstract: > We find that Amazon processes voice data to infer user interests and uses it to serve targeted ads on-platform

anon4272728 5y ago

Unlike other ad platforms, Amazon claims that they do not use voice data for ad targeting. From paper: Amazon has publicly stated that it does not use voice data for targeted advertisements [83], [75]. https://www.nbcmiami.com/news/local/are-smart-speakers-planting-ads-on-our-social-media-profiles/157153/ https://www.nbcmiami.com/news/local/are-smart-speakers-plant...

i_am_jl 5y ago
I'm sure Amazon isn't processing voice data to target ads. Why would they need to? They're using skill interaction, order history, listening history, etc to target ads.

mannykannot 5y ago

"Subtle connotations" are not much to make an objective complaint out of.

bradleybuda 5y ago

For example, this sibling comment: https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=31178067 https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=31178067

slg 5y ago

>Alexa uses the data we give to it by speaking and performing actions via downloaded skills - is very similar to all ad platforms, conveying user intent into ad profiles. There is an argument that this is more privacy conscience than other ad platforms. One needs to say the word "Alexa" before Amazon will collect any potential targeting data. There is an active and distinct choice that must be made before every interaction. That isn't true for Google and Facebook. They will collect data in the background while you are doing other things. There is much less transparency in when and how they are collecting their targeting data and therefore we have much less agency in the process.