Can we trust a smart speaker?

Question 1

eavesdrop

Answer 1

secretly listen to someone’s conversation.

I’m not exactly crazy about someone eavesdropping on my phone call.
how do you know it’s not eavesdropping on you? Well, I… oh… I see. I hadn’t thought of that.

You’re basically introducing… listening bug in your home, in your most intimate space. While the companies say they are only actively listening to what’s going on in your home when they hear the keyword, the microphone is still on the whole time in order to be able to detect that keyword. We don’t know to what extent companies are co-operating with the government or to what extent the government might try to circumvent company security mechanisms in order to then be able to listen to what you’re doing.

Question 2

bug

Answer 2

small electronic device used for secretly listening to conversations.

You’re basically introducing… listening bug in your home, in your most intimate space. While the companies say they are only actively listening to what’s going on in your home when they hear the keyword, the microphone is still on the whole time in order to be able to detect that keyword. We don’t know to what extent companies are co-operating with the government or to what extent the government might try to circumvent company security mechanisms in order to then be able to listen to what you’re doing.

Question 3

intimate

Answer 3

private and personal.

You’re basically introducing… listening bug in your home, in your most intimate space. While the companies say they are only actively listening to what’s going on in your home.

Question 4

circumvent

Answer 4

cleverly bypass or go around.

You’re basically introducing… listening bug in your home, in your most intimate space. We don’t know to what extent companies are co-operating with the government or to what extent the government might try to circumvent company security mechanisms in order to then be able to listen to what you’re doing.

Question 5

be resigned to

Answer 5

accept an unpleasant situation which cannot change.
a trade-off is a compromise. You accept something bad to also receive something good.

What we often saw is people just being resigned to ‘this is the trade-off they have to make’ if they want to enjoy the convenience that a smart speaker provides to them.

Question 6

trade-off

Answer 6

compromise
a trade-off is a compromise. You accept something bad to also receive something good.

What we often saw is people just being resigned to ‘this is the trade-off they have to make’ if they want to enjoy the convenience that a smart speaker provides to them.