From PC Mag:Our smart devices are listening. Whether it's personally identifiable information, location data, voice recordings, or shopping habits, our smart assistants know far more than we realize.
A survey on smart assistant usage conducted by Reviews.org showed that 56% of respondents are concerned over data collection. After analyzing the terms and conditions of Alexa, Google Assistant, Siri, Bixby, and Cortana, though, it was clear that some degree of data collection is ultimately inescapable.
All five services collect your name, phone number, device location, and IP address; the names and numbers of your contacts; your interaction history; and the apps you use. If you don't like that information being stored, you probably shouldn't use a voice assistant.
In the survey, 60% of respondents were concerned about someone listening to their voice recordings, which is a real fear, since Google and Apple have both been caught doing just that. While Google Assistant and Siri now need your permission to record your interactions, the other options record you by default.
Which option is the most invasive? Analysis by Reviews.org found that Alexa collects 37 of the 48 possible data points, the most data out of any other. (It's probably not a coincidence that our readers recently named Alexa to be the least trustworthy voice assistant.) Samsung's Bixby collected 34 points of data, and Cortana collects 32 data points. Meanwhile, Siri collects just 30, and Google's smart assistant takes only 28, making them the least invasive.
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