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Amazon Error Allowed Alexa User To Eavesdrop on Another Home (reuters.com)

Posted by msmash on from the oops dept.

A user of Amazon's Alexa voice assistant in Germany got access to more than a thousand recordings from another user because of "a human error" by the company. From a report: The customer had asked to listen back to recordings of his own activities made by Alexa but he was also able to access 1,700 audio files from a stranger when Amazon sent him a link, German trade publication c't reported. "This unfortunate case was the result of a human error and an isolated single case," an Amazon spokesman said on Thursday. The first customer had initially got no reply when he told Amazon about the access to the other recordings, the report said. The files were then deleted from the link provided by Amazon but he had already downloaded them on to his computer, added the report from c't, part of German tech publisher Heise.

4 of 91 comments (clear)

  1. Single case? by drinkypoo · · Score: 4, Insightful

    "This unfortunate case was the result of a human error and an isolated single case," an Amazon spokesman said on Thursday.

    "Why is this even possible?", internet users said on Thursday.

    --
    "You're right," Fisheye says. "I should have set it on 'whip' or 'chop.'"
    1. Re:Single case? by DarkOx · · Score: 4, Insightful

      Its possible because Amazon and others have convinced people its a great idea to have hot mic; under third party control in their homes.

      Its possible because people are stupid.

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      Repeal the 17th Amendment TODAY! Also Please Read http://www.gnu.org/philosophy/right-to-read.html
    2. Re:Single case? by pr0t0 · · Score: 4, Insightful

      I think a better interpretation of your question should be, why do they have and keep these recordings? The conversation should have gone like this:

      Customer: I'd like to listen to all of the recordings of my interactions with the Alexa device.

      Acceptable answers:
      Amazon: I'm sorry, we do not keep recordings of your interactions with our products.
      or
      Amazon: I'm sorry, all recordings are anonymized. We cannot access recordings by user, location, or time of recording because that information is not stored.

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      I'm sorry, but your opinion seems to be wrong.
  2. Tell me... by Viol8 · · Score: 4, Insightful

    Just how fucking beyond stupid do you have to be to willingly bug your own home with one of these devices? Or is just the ultimate expression of apathy when you can't even be bothered to use a touchscreen to find or do what you need? I think the passengers in the Wall-E film are a closer reality than anyone believed.