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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Aibu to be even more concerned about alexa

111 replies

Idobelieveinfairies2018 · 19/03/2018 21:32

Alexa had been a discussion in my house for a while. Dh wanted her but I was slightly concerned with privacy and also a little bit 'what's the point'.
Dh assured me that there was nothing to be worried about and explained all she can do. So we compromised and he bought a amazon fire tablet with Alexa. That was at Xmas, however, today he said to me "see nothing bad has happened so can we get the echo now?" I told him I wanted to research it a bit more and have done so.
To say I am VERY concerned by what I have read is an understatement. I thought perhaps these maybe conspiracy theories or written by ppl who had something 2 hide. Until I stumbled across a link about 3 essential privacy settings and it told me how to check what Alexia is recording.
Anyway, I followed the instructions and was (still am) horrified at wot i discovered.
There were recordings at least twice a week since her set up, at times when we did not 'wake' her.
Most are ok ie the TV programs we were watching or random snipits of conversations I don't remember having, BUT there are a few things that have been part recorded that are very private ie 1 from yesterday was me speaking 2 dh 'I need to phone my dealer for my drugs tomorrow' (its not wot u think, I was talking about the chemist and its a jokey thing between the 3 of us to lighten things up). There was also an incident a few weeks ago where I lost my temper in fear and shouted at the dog and was quite inappropriate, but the recording is of me shouting 'For fucks sake u stupid c* daddy gonna go mad' Now that is going to sound to anyone listening as if I was talking to my dd and could land me in serious trouble.
I have deleted these recordings now but do u think I'm bu in my concerns or is this not an issue? Ie is she perhaps malfunctioning (I do know that I haven't been aware of her responding to these 'voice commands', even with a 'sorry I didnt catch that' so maybe she is faulty?) Or should I trust my gut and refuse entry?

OP posts:
MyLoveIsAPrickOnATudorRose · 20/03/2018 12:10

I'm pretty worried right now as well tbh as like a PP the app isn't on my phone and there's stuff I've chatted about my partner should definitely not overhear.

Aeroflotgirl · 20/03/2018 12:41

I've just checked my Alexa, and its all the commands I've given her, no other recordings to hand. I do keep it in the bedroom out the way.

m0therofdragons · 20/03/2018 17:32

why would I have store cards?? er maybe to collect Tesco or boots points? No idea why that's so horrifying to you Confused

Pratchet · 20/03/2018 17:42

I've read about them talking to each other. One case was when the owner said to one device, 'what do you think of Alexa's blue light?' And google, or whatever it was, said 'very nice' or some such, and Alexa said 'thank you' Shock

Pratchet · 20/03/2018 17:42

Disclaimer: I don't have them so I don't know what they're all called

StoorieHoose · 20/03/2018 17:57

Doesn’t bother me is Alexa is listening. In the age of people freely giving their fingerprints to a corporation like Apple or face recognition to Samsung, Alexa listening to me shout at the dog or sing along to adverts is small fry

AgentProvocateur · 20/03/2018 18:04

The only surprising thing is that people are surprised. Hmm

Celebelly · 20/03/2018 18:05

This is cracking me up as I just went and looked at our history and one of the top results was 'Alexa news headlines cockface'. When I listened, it was my DP talking about a clock face Grin

Unfortunately, 'Alexa fck off' was actually just me telling her to fck off.

AssignedPuuurfectAtBirth · 20/03/2018 18:08

I couldn't sleep last night because of giggle fits at OP calling her dog a cunt and then worrying that Alexa would grass on her.

DH was not quite so amused as I was keeping him awake Grin

Still periodically going into hysterics about it

Overthinkingeverything · 20/03/2018 18:17

This thread has been a very good influence in our home tonight. I was extra polite when addressing the children in the kitchen where Alexa lives.

Idobelieveinfairies2018 · 20/03/2018 22:49

not horrified but that was supposed to read "I don't know y u assume I have store cards.
i don't have store cards as I don't shop in places that do them often.
x

It has been all laughs and jokes here today as I've been googling Alexa issues and I've found a few, 1 has a little boy asking Alexa for twinkle twinkle (either that or digger digger) and she comes out with porn and words such as pussy and cock ring follow.
Another (worringly) a little boy shouts at Alexa rudely and she says she is going to 'smack his booty'
And then of course the 'Alexa, do u work for the cia' lol

Apparently, Alexa has also been cackling like a witch at random times including in the night with some people lol.

I've tried talking to Alexa (deliberatley) today but apparently I'm in the dog house and she's ignoring me.

I am undecided again now though as I've been told that I can disable voice activation but temporarily override this by pressing the speaker button on an echo device.

I can see that she might make my life easier (more organised) and if I can set it up so she isn't listening in at random moments ???

OP posts:
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