E.U. To Investigate Alexa, Siri and Other Voice Assistants

[engine]

The E.U. is to investigate to establish if there are problems in the market for voice assistants such as Alexa and Siri and other internet-connected devices.

“It sends an important message to powerful operators in these market that we are watching them and that they need to do business in line with competition rules,” European Competition Commission Margrethe Vestager told a news conference.

[reuters.com...]

[ronin]

Smart speakers (listeners?) make me shudder.

And I'm genuinely surprised that they're as popular as they are.

I would rather walk across a room and press a button (one incapable of remembering that it has ever been pressed) any day.

[Jonesy]

Why aren't they called "Hidden Microphones"?
Hidden in plain sight.
Ahhh, because their purpose would be known then, I suppose.

[tangor]

As always, the big tech embraces the human tendency of "line of least insistence" (paraphrased)

As long as the user willingly give up control over their private data they will suck it dry until somebody wakes up.

That's why I don't have a smart tv, smart speaker, or even web cam on any of my computers. I suspect I am in the minority in that regard.

</tinfoil, but if they are really coming for you is it?>