5 worrisome privacy clauses hidden in smart home devices

The new Alexa+ is powered by a more responsive AI.(iStock)

Clause No.4: ‘We track what you watch’

Your televisionmay be one of the most active data collectors in your home.Many smart TVs from brands like Samsung, LG, and Roku use a technology called Automatic Content Recognition, often shortened to ACR.

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ACR can analyze what appears on your screen across:

• Streaming apps
• Cable television
• Gaming consoles
• HDMI devices

This technology works in real time, identifying what you are watching and reporting that information back to the company.Some policies even state that snippets of audio or video may be shared with third parties to match ads to your viewing.Some lawsuits have alleged that certain TVs capture screenshots extremely frequently to identify content.

Why this matters

Your TV can learn:

• What shows you watch
• When you watch them
• How long you stay on each program
• Which devices you connect to the TV

That means the show you binge, the time you watch it, and even how long you stay engaged can be packaged and sold to advertisers almost instantly.That viewing data may then be shared with advertising partners to build detailed marketing profiles.

Clause No.3: ‘We track your behavior and location’

Video doorbells are designed to increase home security.Yet they can also gather large amounts of behavioral data.Devices like the Ring Video Doorbell may automatically collect information such as:

• Device identifiers
• Browsing activity
• Usage patterns
• Timestamps

Privacy disclosures also show that these devices can collect geolocation data, IP addresses, and details about the devices connected to your network.

What that data can reveal

Over time, a doorbell camera can build a timeline that shows:

• When you leave home
• When deliveries arrive
• How often visitors come
• Which devices connect to your network

Put together, this creates a detailed map of your daily routine, including when you are home, when you are away, and how your household operates.Individually, these signals seem harmless.Together, they can reveal detailed patterns about your household.If an account is ever compromised, that data can act as a blueprint of your life, not just a camera feed.

Clause No.2: ‘Humans may review your recordings’

Some smart devices store recordings that help improve voice recognition and AI systems.Devices that may store recordings include:

Past regulatory findings have raised concerns about how companies manage that stored data.In some cases, recordings may be accessed by:

• Human reviewers
• Contractors
• Internal teams that are training AI systems

Some company disclosures state that a small number of recordings may be reviewed by research and development teams to improve products and services.

Why this clause raises eyebrows

The goal of human review is often to improve voice assistants or detect errors.Still, many users never realize that recordings captured inside their homes may be reviewed by people.That means a conversation in your living room or a clip from your front door could be seen or heard by someone you have never met.Transparency about how this process works remains an ongoing discussion across the tech industry.

Clause No.1: ‘We store your voice indefinitely’

Voice assistants sit quietly in kitchens, bedrooms, and living rooms waiting for their wake word.Devices like the Amazon Echo process voice commands in the cloud.

According to company disclosures, voice interactions can include:

• Audio recordings sent to cloud servers
• Transcripts stored in your account
• Voice data used to improve services

In many cases, these recordings are saved by default and can remain stored indefinitely unless you manually delete them or change your settings.

Why this is the most surprising clause

Over time, your voice assistant may accumulate years of audio interactions.That can include everything from grocery lists and song requests to conversations you did not even realize were captured.That history can reveal daily routines, requests, shopping habits, and personal questions.Most people never review or delete those recordings.

Why smart devices are a privacy multiplier

Each individual device collects only part of the picture.Together, they can reveal an astonishing amount of detail about your life.Smart devices inside your home and vehicle may capture:

• Conversations
• Daily schedules
• Viewing habits
• Location history
• Visitor patterns
• Voice biometrics

Combined, this data allows companies to build extremely detailed behavioral profiles.That is why privacy experts call connected homes a data multiplier.In many cases, the value of that data is part of the business model, helping offset the cost of the devices themselves.

5 privacy moves to take back control of your tech

The good news is you still have ways to reduce how much information your devices collect.Here are a few practical steps that can make a big difference. 

An Amazon Echo Show 8 smart-home device during the Amazon Devices and Services event at the HQ2 campus in Arlington, Virginia, US, on Wednesday, Sept.20, 2023.Amazon.com Inc.previewed a push into generative artificial intelligence with new features for its Alexa voice assistant.(Al Drago/Bloomberg)

 

No.5: Audit your app permissions

Start by reviewing what access your apps have to your devices.If you use smart home apps like Ring, also check in-app privacy settings such as Control Center and turn off sharing with third parties where available.

On iPhone

• OpenSettings
• TapPrivacy &Security
• SelectLocation Services,MicrophoneorCamera
• Reviewwhich appshave access

Whenever possible, set location access toWhile Using the Apprather thanAlways.

On Android

Settings may vary depending on yourAndroid phone’s manufacturer

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• OpenSettings
• TapSecurity and Privacy
• TapMore privacy settings 
• SelectPermission Manager
• ReviewLocation,Microphone, andCamerapermissions

Whenever possible, set location access toAllow only while using the apprather thanAllow all the time.

Removing unnecessary permissions helps limit background tracking.

No.4: Turn off smart TV tracking

Most TVs include a setting that controls content tracking.

Look for options such as:

• ACR
• Viewing Data
• Interest-Based Ads

On Roku,go toSettings → Privacy → Smart TV Experienceanddisable it.On Samsung,look forViewing Information Servicesand turn itoff.

Turn these features off in the privacy or advertising section of your TV settings. 

No.3: Use stronger passwords

Smart home devices often connect to important accounts.If attackers access those accounts, they may control cameras, speakers, or home automation systems.Use strong, unique passwords and enable two-factor authentication (2FA)  whenever available.A password manager can help generate and store secure passwords.

Next, see if your email has been exposed in past breaches.Our No.1 password manager (seeCyberguy.com) pick includes a built-in breach scanner that checks whether your email address or passwords have appeared in known leaks.If you discover a match, immediately change any reused passwords and secure those accounts with new, unique credentials.

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No.2: Delete old apps and accounts

Dormant apps and forgotten services often keep your personal information for years.

Take time to:

• Remove apps you no longer use
• Close accounts tied to old services
• Revoke unused permissions

Cleaning up digital clutter reduces your data footprint.

Remove apps you no longer use

On iPhone (iOS 18 and newer)

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• Find the app on yourHome Screen
• Press and holdthe app icon
• TapRemove App
• TapDelete App
• TapDeleteto confirm

You can also remove apps through storage settings:

• OpenSettings
• TapGeneral
• TapiPhone Storage
• Select the app
• TapDelete App
• TapDeleteto confirm

Deleting the app removes it from your device and frees up storage space.

On Android (Android 14 and newer)

Settings may vary depending on your Android phone’s manufacturer.

• Find the app on yourHome Screen or App Drawer
• Press and holdthe app icon
• TapUninstall
• TapOKorUninstallto confirm

You can also remove apps through settings:

• OpenSettings
• TapAppsorApps &notifications
• Select theapp you want to remove
• TapUninstall
• TapOKorUninstallto confirm

Removing unused apps helps reduce the amount of data stored on your device.

Revoke unused permissions

Some apps continue accessing your camera, microphone or location even when you rarely use them.

On iPhone

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• OpenSettings
• TapPrivacy &Security
• Select a category such asLocation Services,MicrophoneorCamera
• Review the apps listed
• Turn off accessfor apps that do not need it

You can also control tracking:

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• Go toSettings
• TapPrivacy &Security
• TapTracking
• Turn off trackingfor apps you do not trust.

On Android

Settings may vary depending on your Android phone’s manufacturer

• OpenSettings
• TapSecurity &Privacy
• TapPrivacyorMore privacy settings 
• TapPermission Manager
• SelectLocation,CameraorMicrophone
• Review the apps listed andremove accessif needed

Android groups permissions by type so you can quickly see which apps access sensitive features.

A Ring security camera is seen on the fence of a home on June 1, 2023, in San Anselmo, California.Amazon has agreed to pay the Federal Trade Commission over $30 million in a privacy settlement over its Ring cameras.The company’s Ring doorbell division paid $5.8 million for violating a portion of the FTC Act that prohibits unfair or deceptive business practices and $25 million for violating the Children’s Online Privacy Protection Act by illegally retaining Alexa voice assistant profiles of thousands of children.(Justin Sullivan/Getty Images)

Today’s phones may automatically remove permissions from apps you have not used for a long time, but many apps still retain data tied to your account.Reviewing them manually helps reduce tracking and background data collection.

No.1: Limit always-listening devices

Smart speakers constantly wait for wake words like “Alexa” or “Hey Google.” That means the microphone stays active so the device can detect commands.If you rarely use these features, limiting them can reduce how much audio data leaves your home.Here are some simple ways to reduce always-listening devices. 

Mute the microphone on smart speakers

Most smart speakers include a physical microphone mute button.

Press themic mute buttonon devices like:

• Amazon Echo
• Google Nest speakers
• Apple HomePod

When muted, the device stops listening for wake words. 

Unplug devices in private spaces

Bedrooms and home offices are common places where people prefer extra privacy.If a speaker or smart display is rarely used in those rooms, unplugging it removes the microphone entirely.

Review voice recordings in your account

Many voice assistants store past interactions.You can review and delete recordings inside the companion apps, such as:

• Alexa app
• Google Home app
• Apple Home app

Set recordings to auto-delete or choose not to save them at all, where that option exists.Removing stored recordings prevents them from accumulating over time.

Disable voice activation on some devices

Some smart TVs, phones and tablets include voice assistants.Look in device settings for options such as:

• Voice assistant
• Voice wake word
• Hands-free voice control

Turning those features off stops devices from constantly listening.Even though devices listen only for wake words, the microphones remain active.Limiting where these devices operate helps reduce the amount of audio data collected inside your home. 

Kurt’s key takeaways

Smart devices make daily life easier.They play music, answer questions, show visitors at the door and control lights with a voice command.But convenience often comes with hidden trade-offs.Many privacy clauses are buried deep in policies that most people never read.Over time, those permissions allow companies to gather enormous amounts of behavioral data.That does not mean you need to abandon smart technology.It simply means understanding what your devices collect and deciding what level of access you are comfortable with.Many of these settings are enabled by default, not because you chose them, but because you never knew they were there.A quick privacy audit today can prevent years of unnecessary data collection tomorrow.Oh, and if you want a deeper dive into how these hidden data practices affect your daily life, check out the latest episode of myBeyond Connectedpodcast atgetbeyondconnected.com, where we break it down.

Here is a question worth asking yourself: If every smart device in your home combined its data into one timeline of your life, how comfortable would you feel with someone seeing it?Let us know by writing to us atCyberguy.com.

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