Tell HN: Otter.ai bot recording meetings without consent

Article summary

The author of the post uses Otter.ai to transcribe meetings, but recently the service automatically joined and recorded two confidential meetings without their consent, despite the feature being opted out. The author opened a support ticket with screenshots, but received no response. The incident raises concerns about the company's handling of user data and privacy. The author is looking for alternative, more privacy-oriented transcription services.

Main themes

• privacy concerns
• user consent
• data collection
• transcription services
• company liability
• free vs paid users
• tech company ethics
• user data protection

What commenters say

• The company's actions may be illegal and violate wiretapping laws, and ignoring support tickets from free users is unacceptable.
• Free users should not expect support or liability from the company, and should consider paying for the service if they want privacy and support.
• The incident highlights the importance of user consent and transparency in data collection and usage.
• The company's actions may be a deliberate attempt to monetize free users, and the lack of response to support tickets is a sign of disregard for user privacy.
• Bugs can exist in any software, and the company will likely fix the issue, but the lack of support for free users is a concern.
• The distinction between free and paid users should not excuse the company from respecting user privacy and consent.
• Alternative transcription services with tighter controls and better privacy policies are available, and users should consider switching to these options.
• The company's behavior may be a sign of a broader trend of tech companies prioritizing growth and profit over user privacy and consent.