Big Brother

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How do you all feel about the latest craze for voice control Internet devices? You know the thing, the Google Nest Mini speaker type things or Microsoft's "Cortana", or Google's "Alexa"?
I've just bought my sister one for her birthday as that's what she wants, but personally, I'm not sure I like the idea of it listening to everything going on in my house 24 hours a day, just in case I ask it something.

Surely Google could learn everything about you and your privacy is gone? What if we ended up with forced BT Corbynreach broadband too?

As far fetched as Orwell's 1984 felt in 1984, it's surprising how much of it is coming true 35 years later. We have thought crime, where people are charged for thinking of, but not actually committing a crime, we have government spying on us, media controlled by increasingly far left socialists.
1984 depicted a dark future where technology exists in the public realm only as a tool for the elite to control society. - tick.
It predicted "telescreens" where the state could monitor people's movements by facial recognition. This already happens in China China China where 500,000 members of the Uighur Muslim minority are being tracked by facial recognition cameras.
"Speakwrite" - Orwell predicted a device which you could speak into which would turn those words into text. Yep.

There are many other similarities too, but the way the proles are now being controlled and monitored via the equivalent of "telescreens" is quite shocking when you think about it. It's kind of sneaked in and people are just accepting it, like the farce where we still pretend an elected government run the country on behalf of the democratic majority, when in fact individuals such a Miller or Bercrow, plus the 650 members of parliament can over rule democracy.

Oh the times they are a changing...
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[Diggs]

I'd watch that Alexa device if I were her. We have had one for a year now, and it does listen to everything that is said. Try mentioning any product or situation repeatedly and see how quickly adverts for it appear on her news-feed....

Nice the way you've slipped JC, Miller and Bercow into your topic though!
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[Bubbs]

The scarier part of it listening to everything is how it will sell that data on to third parties. For example you could be talking about health symptoms with a family member, or maybe you start slurring your words more often, which Alexa is only to happy to listen to. Alexa can use this data and sell to interested parties.. such as life insurance companies who will then happily increase annual rates etc.

It's scary!

Google already do crazy things... for example the reCaptcha system for deterring spammers was actually used to digitise archives of old books. They also use the reCaptcha photo system, the "Select all images which have a traffic light" boxes to train driverless cars how to navigate the streets.

I listened to a podcast where an expert explained that simply recording the way you move your mouse to click the "I am not a robot " check box will tell them a lot about your health.

I fear it's too late! We're all doomed.
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[piazza]

The worst thing about it is even if you don't use these things the people around you do, and their phones are on all the time. I don't like my LG remote because of the mic. I swear it buzzes sometimes when my phone is near it.

I only recently started using the app store on google - bought a drone and needed the app- which apparently turned on all sorts of things. Im getting sick of denying my calendar access to my camera etc wtf! I can't even see my bikes on my homescreen cos some app wants to do 'something' constantly.

My camera and mic on my laptop have been taped over since I bought it 3 years ago, and I use duckduckgo...small things, but we do what we can. I'd never have an Alexa or google equivalent.

[andym]

When I first seen this thread it reminded me of the double murder case where the judge has ordered Amazon to hand over the recordings from the 2 days surrounding the murders.

Just doing a quick search there are loads of sites that claim various devices are recording, but the BBC have done some research and said there's no proof of them recording anything

[Polarbear]

All I can say is I hope the Alexa in the bedroom doesn't have a camera.
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My Facebook feed on my phone now has adverts for Google Nest Home Minis.

First time I’ve seen the ad. Coincidence, or picked up that I typed it on my PC earlier?
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[piazza]

Complaining about privacy and using facebook seems counter productive

I stuffed blutack into my LG tv's mic

[piazza]

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[Ste]

Alexa, open the box of cats.

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[Ste]

Yes, it's good isn't it.

[Diggs]

Trouble is, I am bombarded with Viagra adverts now...
____________________
Now - Speed Triple, old ratty GS550, GSXR750M
Gone (in order of ownership) - Raleigh Runabout, AP50, KH125, GP125, KH250, CBX550, Z400, CB750FII, 250LC, GS550, ZXR750H1, Guzzi Targa, GSX750F, KH250 x2, Bimota SB6R and counting...

[Polarbear]

[Easy-X]

Top marks for shoe-horning in so many political points for what would still have been an interesting topic

I don't recall the government in 1984 specifically referred to as Communist. IngSoc (English Socialists) might imply it but you wouldn't say the National Socialists were left wing!

Anyhoo, fuck knows what Google is thinking in my house as the wife is heavily into TV murder mysteries and those documentaries about serial killers!
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[Polarbear]

[BTTD]

I work with someone who still doesn't have a mobile phone. I was a bit stunned, and slightly envious.
I've found days when I've forgotten my phone a mix of liberating and frustrating.

I think the point mpd is making is interesting though. When 1984 was written none of the technology was even remotely available. Now it's all out there and we only hear snippets about the quantity of data being collected and sold. Fitbits for example, apparently all that data is being recorded and mined. wtf.

[Sister Sledge]

I've taped over laptop cameras and microphones for years - friends say I'm crazy. They refuse to believe what's happening.
I asked my 24 year old son if he was concerned about all of this privacy stuff and he told me he doesn't care. People are sheep and accept it.

As for government watching: Surely you all know that every single fibre link between continents that lands at Cornwall is tapped by our wonderful government. Their data spy centers have enough capacity to store the entire internet if recorded continuously for a whole month.
We have everything to be concerned for.
People joke that the men in suits will be coming because they've said something? Could be very true that.
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[Kawasaki Jimbo]

Were the Nazis socialists?
Of course not.

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I’d say the modern hard left are becoming very, very similar to the Nazi party, from antisemitism to controlling the media and brainwashing the youth movement.

We’ve already seen the climate fascists using a fresh faced Nordic girl with pigtails to push their point. Exactly the same style of propaganda used by the Nazis.

Politics appears to have gone full circle.
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[Kawasaki Jimbo]

Just a nonsensical way for the Far Right to try to shed the incisive "Nazi" accusation. "No, you're a Nazi!" convinces no one.

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It might not fit your agenda, but It’s true though isn’t it?

Antisemitism is rife, they've Worked hard to infiltrate and control the media and education, to indoctrinate the youth. Jesus H, they even parade The Fuhrer on stage at Glastonbury festival.

The use of a Nordic girl as the face of the climate fascist movement is incredibly similar to how the Nazis operated. She looks almost identical, have you not seen the photos?

Both born out of a socialist ideology. Both getting a reputation for electoral fraud and cheating to get into power.

The only difference is Hitler had a far better taste in women and i’m Sorry to say it, but even Hitler had more of a grasp of reality than Corbyn.
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TZR250 2MA road, TZR250 1KT road, TZR250 2MA race, TDR250, YZF-750R Boost colours.
Jaguar S Type 3.0 V6 Sport R, VW Transporter T5 GP LWB Shuttle 140ps DSG.