Smart Devices

Yes, but it’s complicated.

Smart speakers constantly listen for wake words (“Alexa,” “Hey Google”). After hearing it, they record and send audio to company servers.

What gets recorded:

• Everything after the wake word
• Sometimes conversations before (accidental triggers)
• Background noise and other voices

The problems:

• Human contractors review recordings
• Accidental activations happen constantly
• Data kept indefinitely unless you delete it

What you can do:

• Use the physical mute button
• Delete voice history in app settings
• Disable voice recording storage
• Opt out of human review
• Unplug when not using

You can’t have a voice assistant that doesn’t listen. Decide if the convenience is worth it.

Probably. Smart TVs are notorious for data collection.

What they track:

• Everything you watch (even from external devices)
• How long you watch
• Apps you use
• If it has a mic: potentially conversations

ACR (Automatic Content Recognition):

Takes screenshots every few seconds to identify what you’re watching. Works even for cable boxes and game consoles.

How to disable:

• Samsung: Settings → Terms & Policies → Viewing Information Services → Off
• LG: Settings → General → LivePlus → Off
• Check your TV’s privacy settings

Best option:

Don’t connect your smart TV to internet. Use a separate streaming device you’ve configured for privacy.

Most aren’t. The smart home industry has a terrible security track record.

Common problems:

• Default passwords that never get changed
• No security updates
• Weak or no encryption
• Excess permissions

Real incidents:

• Baby monitors hacked, strangers talking to children
• Smart locks opened remotely by anyone
• Security cameras streaming publicly by default

Before buying, ask:

• Does this NEED to be smart?
• Does the company have good security reputation?
• Will it get updates?

If you have smart devices:

• Change default passwords immediately
• Put IoT devices on a separate network
• Disable unused features (especially mics/cameras)
• Update firmware regularly

See: Self-hosted alternatives that work without cloud services.

Yes. That map is valuable data companies collect and potentially share.

What robot vacuums know:

• Detailed floor plan
• Room sizes and layout
• Furniture locations
• When you’re home

Why it matters:

A home map reveals wealth, lifestyle, family composition, and security vulnerabilities. Amazon bought iRobot (Roomba) for a reason.

What you can do:

• Check privacy settings in the app
• Delete old maps you don’t need
• Disable “improvement program” features
• Consider local-only models

Low-tech solution:

Regular vacuums work great and know nothing about your home.

Yes, both for you and your neighbors.

What they collect:

• Video of everyone who approaches
• Audio recordings
• Facial recognition data
• Motion patterns and timestamps

The controversial part:

Some smart doorbell companies share footage with police without warrants. Your doorbell might be surveilling your entire neighborhood.

Privacy concerns:

• Neighbors captured without consent
• Footage stored on company servers
• Police partnerships and data requests
• Facial recognition databases

If you use one:

• Disable audio recording if possible
• Limit motion detection zones
• Check if your brand shares with police
• Review and delete old footage
• Consider a non-connected camera instead

For your neighbors:

You might be recorded by smart doorbells you don’t know about. This is a growing neighborhood privacy issue.