Google chief: I'd disclose smart speakers before guests enter my home (bbc.com)

Article summary

Google's devices chief, Rick Osterloh, stated that homeowners should disclose the presence of smart devices to their guests before they enter the home. This admission came during an interview where Osterloh discussed the importance of considering all users and stakeholders when it comes to smart technology. The conversation also touched on Google's approach to facial recognition and data collection. Osterloh acknowledged that the company needs to be more transparent and cautious in its handling of user data.

Main themes

• smart home devices
• data collection
• facial recognition
• privacy concerns
• corporate responsibility
• government regulation

What commenters say

• Corporations are prioritizing profits over user privacy and are only taking steps to address concerns when faced with potential regulation or backlash.
• The government may be complicit in the collection of user data and may be using it for their own purposes.
• Some companies, like Apple, are taking a more privacy-focused approach to AI and data collection, which could become a liability for companies that do not follow suit.
• The use of dark patterns and nagging users to opt-in to data collection is a common practice among big tech companies.
• Users are becoming increasingly aware of the importance of data privacy and are seeking out alternative services that prioritize their privacy.
• The line between corporate and government data collection is often blurred, and it is difficult to determine where one ends and the other begins.
• Some argue that federated learning and other privacy-centric AI approaches are not truly privacy-focused, but rather a way for companies to market themselves as such while still collecting user data.