| The answer to stopping ubiquitous pervasive surveillance probably isn't installing more ubiquitous pervasive surveillance. It's clear many people feel there are benefits to owning one of these devices, but it does seem all of the benefits you are listing can be achieved without making such a sacrifice to a giant multinational conglomerate with a poor history of user rights and privacy. With your comment “Alexa, drop in on [child’s] room”, the point that immediately came to mind is that Alexa doesn't drop in. Alexa is always there. I guess a lot of it will come down to whether you believe that: a) Amazon will honour whatever promise they have with the consumer not to monitor them/keep records of your communications safe b) That normalising such devices will not lead to their expanding use in direction you do NOT agree with in the future c) That the device, system and amazon servers your and your families information is stored in is secure from being taken control over by third parties. Personally, I think b is the biggest concern, as I believe arguments similar to yours (you already carry a smartphone) will be replaced in the future with (you are already recorded by alexa) to justify further things I would consider to be beyond reasonable in a free democratic society (whats wrong with a little facial recognition, etc). |