Technology has come a long way. Instead of talking to ourselves, we can now talk to a black, white and possibly red box of various shapes in our homes and work place. I thought when I received one of these shapes that maybe hearing the news and the weather forecast without turning on my radio was a good thing. For argument’s sake those lonely persons could have quite a nice chat or listen to music or a play. On the business side this box could be useful until one thinks that this technology has probably advanced further than one is led to believe.
Alexa has the ability to remember data and according to the creators this simple box could be manipulated by outside forces such as scammers to rob you and probably spy on you. Worked on the principle of wi fi this signal can be transmitted to an outside influence by who knows. Someone that is invisible and can’t be traced by any authority!
On set up there are instructions that are personal to the customer and only you. The trouble comes when the magic box comes out of sync for no reason. If you are not technical enough, and ask for help outside your domain, ie the Internet, which unfortunately unbeknown to the internet have rogue businesses, who quite calmly will reconnect your box for a small fee and obviously you pay online with your Visa Card.
Day to day things run smoothly when all of a sudden the box asks you whether you would like a long conversation and needs to study your voice pattern and instructs you to repeat a phrase four times. Don’t on any account do this – because although this box is innocent the voice behind could manipulate from outside forces.
Alexa and any other make of artificial gadget that is created needs to be vigilantly and carefully assessed as scammers are getting very innovative with ways to infiltrate and gain access to personal information.
Voice technology they say only scratches the surface of what can be achieved and the possibilities are endless for businesses and in my mind is another vehicle for scammers to research. It is a worry as it has been intimated that ECHO, ALEXA and other similar artificial talking boxes could be used in the further development of the National Health Service!
Voice technology isn’t new by any means. In fact, it was first designed in the 1950s but with the new home assistant device, it has taken a place in the forefront of consumer minds. The technology is improving at such a rapid pace that it is constantly interesting consumers. Just like social media and smartphones, voice technology is here to stay in the consumers everyday life.
I think that Voice Technology has already reached perfection and can be a dangerous object to own and any gadget that is able understand any conversation could be useful in a commercial capacity and not in anyone’s front room. Further more it has now been announced that Amazon employees listen to conversations of the unsuspecting public, which is not mentioned when purchasing Alexa or Echo.dot – so a touch of Big Brother looms again on the horizon – obviously haven’t heard of the privacy act and those who are ignorant to this fact are breaking the law and below is the proof.
The Right to Privacy is a fundamental right and an intrinsic part of Article 17 that protects life and liberty of the citizens and as a part of the freedoms guaranteed by International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights of the United Nations in 1966 also protects privacy: “No one shall be subjected to arbitrary or unlawful interference with his privacy, family, home or correspondence, nor to unlawful attacks on his honour and reputation. Everyone has the right to the protection of the law against such interference or attacks.”
On December 18, 2013, the United Nations General Assembly adopted resolution 68/167 on the right to privacy in the digital age. The resolution makes reference to the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and reaffirms the fundamental and protected human right of privacy.
The Principles on Personal Data Protection and Privacy for the United Nations System were declared on 11 October 2018.
The above is just my opinion and anyone who wants to write to me care of the newspaper regarding the content – please do so! Swear words are not accepted.