[justapassenger]

> What reassurances have you had about not being listened to?

I know enough about tech to know that it's very very very hard technical problem, and hiding it is basically impossible. And no one showed anything even reassembling any form of breadcrumb pointing towards it, not even a proof.

[fouric]

> I know enough about tech to know that it's very very very hard technical problem, and hiding it is basically impossible.

This gets repeatedly asserted, and it's false. Low-accuracy voice transcription is a solved problem, and is relatively easy to hide, as long as you have API access[1]. (so, Facebook is probably in the clear, as neither Apple nor Google are crazy enough to let them have invisible microphone access, but it would be relatively easy for Google (Play Services hook anyone?))

[1] https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=27142812

[justapassenger]

I'm very well aware that low accuracy voice transcription is possible.

But it's naive thinking that having an algorithm equals solving a technical problem. That's not even the problem. Problem is how to deploy it, at scale, without anyone leaking it (both employees and vendors). And hiding it so well, that none of the security researchers will be able to find it. And doing all of that in a way, that they can use it and get value out of it.

And then compare risks of doing with risks and ROI of, for example, improving search accuracy, so people will just come and tell you more about stuff they want.