What will happen with Hey Disney! now? (Everything you say to your Echo will be sent to Amazon)

[SteveH]

If you're not a techy type, so you may not read Ars Technica, but this story just broke based on an email customers, "Everything you say to your Echo will be sent to Amazon starting on March 28." I've said if I stayed at a Disney owned hotel I'll unplug the device first thing. I don't use any Alexa devices at home, and never will. But interesting change that won't be popular with many.

 

[Narcoossee11]

you are being monitor everywhere. Roomba, Alexa, cellphones, TV,
Just enjoy your vacation. Disney know more about you than YOU know about your self.

 

[TinkAgainU]

I mean, if you are plannng to overthrow the monarchy, or doing drug deals, I’d unplug it. Otherwise, most of what goes on in a hotel room is simply boring

I use Alexa a lot at home but have yet to use the Hey Disney for much. Seems wasted equipment and expense, but harmless other than that. Maybe housekeeping uses it?

 

[loves to dive]

I unplug mine just out of habit. I usually travel solo so the only sounds that come out of my room are the TV and things in the bathroom and if I snore at night so it's not like it's going to hear anything interesting. We don't have an Alexa or Echo at home, I'm old school and if I need some information am capable of typing a question. Yes, I know a computer isn't really old school. I'm aware that anything on the internet or through the cell phone has the capability of being seen/heard but I just have some sort of irrational thing about the Echo/Alexa/Hey Disney.

 

[Gabby01]

I unplug mine just out of habit. I usually travel solo so the only sounds that come out of my room are the TV and things in the bathroom and if I snore at night so it's not like it's going to hear anything interesting. We don't have an Alexa or Echo at home, I'm old school and if I need some information am capable of typing a question. Yes, I know a computer isn't really old school. I'm aware that anything on the internet or through the cell phone has the capability of being seen/heard but I just have some sort of irrational thing about the Echo/Alexa/Hey Disney.

It's not irrational. Given that everything you say/write on your phone/the internet is being stored in a searchable database, your only chance of having a private conversation now is in person. Echo/Alexa/Hey Disney is removing that possibility.

You don't have to be planning to overthrow the government or doing drug deals. People are entitled to privacy. And depending on the circles you run in, you may know people who have access to that surveillance data and are willing to leverage it against you.

 

[Pens Fan]

I've lost track of the times our family has had a conversation about something and then started seeing Google ads about it pop up on our devices a short time later. And I am not talking about looking something up online triggering a pop up ad, but a private conversation in our home. We have no Alexa or Echo type devices in our home - just cell phones, lap tops, and PC's.

I've told this story on here before, but it bears repeating. A couple of years ago we were staying in a Copper Creek 2BR unit. The hairdryer in the master bath was basically useless - it had very little power. Our son was staying in the 2nd BR and never uses a hairdryer. I walked into the living room and told him I was swapping out hairdryers as ours didn't work very well.

A short time later there was a knock on the door. A CM asked if we needed anything. I told him, no we're good. He then asked me if I was sure, and whether there was something wrong in our bathroom. I thanked him, but again told him we were fine and he finally left. I turned around and told my son to unplug the Hey Disney right now!

They have always been listening. We aren't currently plotting anything nefarious (that I know of anyway ), so I don't lose any sleep over it. Still, it's a bit creepy to think about.

 

[Brian Noble]

most of what goes on in a hotel room is simply boring

I'm not so sure about that.

Either way, I'm not sure I need Amazon listening in.

 

[LAS2AMS]

Oh, no! Amazon is building a profile on you of how often you ask about park hours or request an extra bar of soap!

Seriously, this should be the least of your concerns. Unless you live disconnect on some remote desert island, everything you do is being tracked by somebody.

Let’s say you went out for coffee this morning. Your car and cell phone most likely collected data. Automated license plate readers may have recorded you. Camera almost certainly picked up your movement. If you paid with a card and/ or used your loyalty club, more data was collected on you.

But we better draw the line at unplugging Alexa, as we don’t want Amazon knowing how often or where to we request park hours. Instead, we’ll look them up on our phone. Oh wait…

 

[atthebeachclub]

Oh, no! Amazon is building a profile on you of how often you ask about park hours or request an extra bar of soap!

Seriously, this should be the least of your concerns. Unless you live disconnect on some remote desert island, everything you do is being tracked by somebody.

Let’s say you went out for coffee this morning. Your car and cell phone most likely collected data. Automated license plate readers may have recorded you. Camera almost certainly picked up your movement. If you paid with a card and/ or used your loyalty club, more data was collected on you.

But we better draw the line at unplugging Alexa, as we don’t want Amazon knowing how often or where to we request park hours. Instead, we’ll look them up on our phone. Oh wait…

It is totally not crazy to want a modicum of privacy or at least some control of their personal information. Why would you belittle people who want that?

Amazon’s interest in your information does not come from a benevolent place. Why give your personal info away to this private company for free?

At least when I choose to give my private info to Disney, I know what I am getting in return. And for now, I am ok with that swap. But if things change, my feelings may also change.

 

[JulieBeeRN]

We always unplug the Echo when we get to our room. Don't use Alexa at home and certainly not on vacation.

 

[mom2rtk]

I never understood the "we already give up some privacy so let's just give it all up" line of thinking.

Big tech thanks all of you who cooperate on things like this for giving it up for free. Because it's gold to them.

Some lack of privacy is bad. More lack of privacy is worse.

 

[Leigh L]

If you're not a techy type, so you may not read Ars Technica, but this story just broke based on an email customers, "Everything you say to your Echo will be sent to Amazon starting on March 28." I've said if I stayed at a Disney owned hotel I'll unplug the device first thing. I don't use any Alexa devices at home, and never will. But interesting change that won't be popular with many.

We always unplug it upon arrival to our room. Thanks for the heads up, good to know!

(Don't use the devices at home either)

 

[pzw90]

Anyone think there is an internal battery, that probably has enough charge to run background apps (screen off, mic on) until mousekeeping plugs it back in again?

 

[mom2rtk]

You give away your private all day long. Most companies are building a profile on you. Amazon/ Alexa isn’t. We should be concerned about our privacy but if you’re drawing the line at Alexa, it’s showing ignorance to the topic.

Maybe grandpa has some tin foil hats we can borrow

Jeff, is that you?

 

[atthebeachclub]

You give away your private all day long. Most companies are building a profile on you. Amazon/ Alexa isn’t. We should be concerned about our privacy but if you’re drawing the line at Alexa, it’s showing ignorance to the topic.

Maybe grandpa has some tin foil hats we can borrow

Maybe we should be allowed to make our own privacy decisions as we see fit. What benefit does sharing my information with Amazon give me? Nothing. And stopping sharing is pretty simple; unplug it. I’ve never wanted an Alexa and don’t plan to purchase such a device.

 

[mom2rtk]

Our data and privacy is breached all day long. I provided an example earlier. I completely agree that we should have more control over it, and it’s shameful that government across all political spectrums have historically resisted any attempts to give us more control.

Historically the most controlled data was our financial data stored at the IRS. We’re now giving uncontrolled access to a group of unvetted 20-somethings. This makes me angry. Alex a strong trivial data does not.

I'll just never understand that thinking. Because it happens in these cases, we should let it happen in more cases. Doesn't seem logical to me at all.

Why not just go ahead and put your social security number here for us. Maybe make it your tag line. I mean, our privacy is breached all the time already, right?

 

[DVCjj]

It totally creeps me out. Always did. Always will.
Yes I know my iPhone listens. So obvious with Targeted ads. I still have to use my phone but I don’t have to have my hotel room obviously bugged.

The instant I walk into my Disney room my entire family unplugs their various rooms. Even when we recently did a 4 resort change.

 

[LAS2AMS]

I'll just never understand that thinking. Because it happens in these cases, we should let it happen in more cases. Doesn't seem logical to me at all.

Why not just go ahead and put your social security number here for us. Maybe make it your tag line. I mean, our privacy is breached all the time already, right?

You have to pick your battles in life. Like I said, nobody cares that your most private sensitive data is being actively breached. We care that Alexa is building a profile on us asking for an extra bar of soap.

 

[Marrila]

You have to pick your battles in life. Like I said, nobody cares that your most private sensitive data is being actively breached. We care that Alexa is building a profile on us asking for an extra bar of soap.

I think you assume quite a bit about other folks.

 

[LAS2AMS]

I think you assume quite a bit about other folks.

Ironic. Sounds like you’re assuming a lot about me.