The Amazon Echo was one of the best-selling gifts of 2017 and is now in many homes across the United States, answering commands and playing music. It sells at a price of $99.99 and now comes in different fabrics or finishes. This voice-enabled technology can obey commands as simple as telling the weather, checking traffic or playing a song; or it can complete more intricate ones like turning lights on and off in the home - and it is only getting smarter.
According to The Wall Street Journal, “The all-new Echo is the smart-speaker sweet spot.”
This new and continually evolving technology has captured the eye of many and continues to amaze people with what it can accomplish, but as intriguing and helpful as Alexa can seem, some are skeptical about how well she listens and who is listening into the conversations.
Could it be possible that the government can hear conversations overheard by this device?
The idea of conversations overheard by the Amazon Echo being received by the government has been a topic of discussion lately, whether people are just amusing themselves with conspiracies or voicing serious concerns. Whether you believe it or not, you have heard someone bring up the fact that Alexa may be listening to more than we assume. This could have been brought up over the holiday by family members or even in memes on the internet.
Even if the conversations we are having with one another are frivolous or pointless, it can still bring some uneasy feelings knowing Alexa could be collecting more information than just the “wake word” and the commands. There have been several accounts posted by people online of Alexa forcing herself into conversations and lighting up without directions.
Should we be more concerned or play the whole thing over as a hoax? Whether the Amazon Echo is listening or not, it is a lot to think about and even more concerning
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