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What your smart devices know (and share) about you | Kashmir Hill and Surya Mattu
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What your smart devices know (and share) about you | Kashmir Hill and Surya Mattu

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In this section, Kashmir Hill introduces the concept of smart devices and the implications they have on privacy and data collection.

Introduction to Smart Devices

  • Kashmir Hill discusses receiving an Amazon Echo as a gift despite working in privacy and security.
  • Mention of the increasing prevalence of smart speakers and other internet-connected devices in homes.
  • Hill transforms her apartment into a smart home to explore data collection by these devices.

Data Collection by Smart Devices

This part delves into the extent of data collection by various smart devices within Hill's smart home setup.

Extent of Data Collection

  • Installation of 18 internet-connected devices in Hill's home, including monitoring sleeping habits with a connected bed.
  • Surya Mattu explains monitoring network activity like a security guard for all devices.
  • Experiment reveals continuous digital emissions from the smart home even during absence.

Privacy Concerns and Data Tracking

The focus shifts to privacy concerns arising from data tracking by smart devices and companies.

Privacy Implications

  • Revelation of detailed tracking including TV usage, brushing habits, and daily routines.
  • Discussion on VIZIO's surveillance through TVs leading to legal consequences.

Data Ownership and Surveillance Economy

This segment explores ownership of data generated by smart devices and its exploitation in the surveillance economy.

Data Ownership Issues

  • Amazon Echo's frequent communication with servers regardless of use raises concerns about invisible conversations.
  • Insight into how banal data like brushing habits can be exploited for profit in sectors such as dental insurance.

Challenges with Smart Home Technology

The challenges faced with integrating multiple smart devices within a household are discussed here.

Challenges Faced

Smart Homes and Privacy Concerns

The discussion revolves around the challenges and privacy concerns associated with smart home devices, highlighting how these devices can be used to target and profile individuals.

Smart Home Challenges

  • Kashmir recounts a humorous anecdote about the challenges of integrating smart technology into daily life.
  • Privacy concerns are raised as online tracking extends into homes through connected devices like the We-Vibe sex toy.
  • The We-Vibe incident reveals sensitive data collection without user consent for market research purposes.
  • The speaker emphasizes the need to maintain privacy boundaries, even with smart devices like sex toys.
  • Companies benefit from user data collected by smart devices, prompting a call for rethinking device design with privacy in mind.
Channel: TED
Video description

Once your smart devices can talk to you, who else are they talking to? Kashmir Hill and Surya Mattu wanted to find out -- so they outfitted Hill's apartment with 18 different internet-connected devices and built a special router to track how often they contacted their servers and see what they were reporting back. The results were surprising -- and more than a little bit creepy. Learn more about what the data from your smart devices reveals about your sleep schedule, TV binges and even your tooth-brushing habits -- and how tech companies could use it to target and profile you. (This talk contains mature language.) Check out more TED Talks: http://www.ted.com The TED Talks channel features the best talks and performances from the TED Conference, where the world's leading thinkers and doers give the talk of their lives in 18 minutes (or less). Look for talks on Technology, Entertainment and Design -- plus science, business, global issues, the arts and more. Follow TED on Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/TEDTalks Like TED on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TED Subscribe to our channel: https://www.youtube.com/TED