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Facebook Delays Home-Speaker Unveil Amid Data Crisis (bloomberg.com)
Bloomberg reports: Facebook has decided not to unveil new home products at its major developer conference in May, in part because the public is currently so outraged about the social network's data-privacy practices, according to people familiar with the matter. The company's new hardware products, connected speakers with digital-assistant and video-chat capabilities, are undergoing a deeper review to ensure that they make the right trade-offs regarding user data, the people said.
While the hardware wasn't expected to be available until the fall, the company had hoped to preview the devices at the largest annual gathering of Facebook developers, said the people, who asked not to be named discussing internal plans. The devices are part of Facebook's plan to become more intimately involved with users' everyday social lives, using artificial intelligence -- following a path forged by Amazon.com and its Echo in-home smart speakers. As concerns escalate about Facebook's collection and use of personal data, now may be the wrong time to ask consumers to trust it with even more information by placing a connected device in their homes.
While the hardware wasn't expected to be available until the fall, the company had hoped to preview the devices at the largest annual gathering of Facebook developers, said the people, who asked not to be named discussing internal plans. The devices are part of Facebook's plan to become more intimately involved with users' everyday social lives, using artificial intelligence -- following a path forged by Amazon.com and its Echo in-home smart speakers. As concerns escalate about Facebook's collection and use of personal data, now may be the wrong time to ask consumers to trust it with even more information by placing a connected device in their homes.
That would be a great poll idea, wouldn't it?
Which smart speaker would you trust the most?
Apple HomePod
Amazon Echo
Google Home
Facebook what's-its-name
#DeleteFacebook
to ensure that they make the right trade-offs regarding user data
There are things you just shouldn't have any authority to decide on trade-offs for, and especially trade-offs on the behalf of others.
I think this highlights why the US needs data protection regulations like the EU and other European countries have, where personal data is owned by the user, and not the company that collects it, and where companies who create databases of user data beyond what's needed for a transaction have to provide a justification and obtain a permit.
Giving them a carte blanche and letting them decide for themselves what "trade-offs" they want to play is stupid.
My wife's grandmother can' see a damned thing. For her, to be to ask a question and get an audible response is a real improvement to her quality of life.
But I wouldn't want that shit in MY house.