Sniffing Voices By Brian Simpson

     With all of the scandals about the big tech companies suddenly erupting, I was wondering where Amazon.com would fit in. Now, I wonder, no more:
  https://www.naturalnews.com/2018-04-06-amazon-patent-admits-it-will-listen-in-real-time-for-trigger-words-that-could-get-you-arrested-and-imprisoned.html

“An Amazon patent, filed in June 12, 2017, reveals a massive conspiracy to spy on you using a “voice sniffer algorithm.” If approved by the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office, this artificial intelligence can be embedded inside Amazon devices, including the Amazon Alexa. The “voice sniffer algorithm” would take advantage of the microphones already built into Amazon devices. The technology would permit Alexa and other Amazon devices to listen to your conversations in real-time to identify “trigger words” that can give the tech giant insight into your personal life. The AI spy tech will learn about your personality, interests, purchasing habits, or glean any useful detail about your private life. The “trigger words” from your private conversations could then be sent to third parties so any organization can target market their products to you.

The third parties could include political organizations that want to motivate you to action or manipulate you otherwise. The data could even be used by law enforcement agencies to determine who might commit a crime in the future. The “voice sniffer algorithm” will help law enforcement closely watch a perceived threat to society. Words from your private conversations could be used against you, leading to arrest or imprisonment. Law enforcement could use the data to identify “threats,” while abiding by red flag laws that are used to disarm citizens who are considered “mentally ill” or a threat to family and friends. The technology could lead to the targeting of specific belief systems that are a threat to industries. The widespread analysis of private conversation could be used to suggest mental illness and force psychiatric drugs on people.”

     That is a pity, as I quite liked Amazon; a great selection of books. So, I guess we will have to operate under the methodological principle of being suspicious of Big Tech, like we now are of Big Pharma, and above all else, “handle with care.” Still, I eagerly await some books which the editor is sending to me for review, which I hope you will enjoy.