More and more homes have home automation devices to help with different tasks. But when using these devices, a trend has developed on the part of many users, and that is that they think that these devices can go against people’s privacy. There are many factors that can be taken into account to be able to think about this, be it with cameras, motion detectors and even smart speakers. Everything is part of a framework that can help us with many things, but are smart homes and privacy compatible? Below you have all the details.
Smart homes and privacy
Homes that have home automation systems are becoming more common. This is thanks to the fact that the devices that help us automate many processes are becoming more and more accessible. All of this can usually be controlled from a central point, be it a virtual assistant or a device with an app installed. Here we have the epicenter, from where we issue orders, so it seems that everything is completely under our control.
But all these devices have fueled the privacy debate in recent times. In the end, they are still devices with microphones and cameras that have access to the Internet. Therefore, doubts arise about where everything that these devices hear or see ends up. So it may be normal that many users are more reticent to these devices.
virtual assistants
They are one of the epicenters of home automation in our homes. What at first came as something anecdotal, now they have a very large installed base, and each time they have more functions. Little by little they have become cheaper, this means that on many occasions with 20 or 30 euros we can get one of these.
These types of devices with built-in microphones, which can detect a voice that is relatively far away, we can think that they listen to absolutely everything. And really, it is. This happens because they must always be ready to activate when we launch the command for them to start working. Therefore, they have to filter everything they hear in an effective way. But this is what can start to generate mistrust.
In the case of Google, they have confirmed on some occasions that they carry out some listening to fragments of audio captured by their speakers. But they also say that only a group of language experts have access to this, with the simple objective of improving the quality of services and updating systems to make them more effective. According to what they tell us, espionage and surveillance are not part of any type of plan.
On the other hand, we have Amazon, who admitted that they keep some transcripts and voice recordings indefinitely. But in this case, it is possible that they are deleted by the users themselves.
data leaks
It is well known that there is data and information about some leaks that have affected the main distributors of these devices. This was brought to the attention of the public by a Belgian media outlet, which claimed that some subcontracted companies in Belgium and Germany may have had access to user recordings. Which is why smart homes and privacy may seem incompatible.
In general, these leaks are actions that go totally against the privacy policies of the companies. This caused those affected to report the opening of investigations to clarify the reasons why these data had been leaked. It should be noted that in Europe there are quite restrictive data protection laws. They are mandatory, and if any company skips them, it can lead to significant penalties for the affected company. On the other hand, when these have occurred, it seems that it could have been due to some type of problem and not by the companies’ own will. In any case, we all know how the world works today, where data and information are a source of power.
Conclution
As long as we talk about this type of device, it is totally normal that there is some skepticism towards its use. This type of device has an ever-widening market, and the sales figures do not stop growing. The risk of cyberattacks will always be present, so in the end everything falls on the decision of each user on whether or not to use these devices.
From RedesZone we believe that smart homes and privacy can be compatible, but you must be careful which devices and platforms you choose for it.
