Smart speaker calls the cops, gets owner arrested

A violent domestic dispute led to a smart speaker calling the cops. Is this a good thing?

I’m honestly not sure if this is cool — or creepy:

Barros allegedly wielded a firearm and threatened to kill his girlfriend, asking her: “Did you call the sheriffs?” A smart speaker, which was hooked up to a surround sound system inside the home, recognized that as a voice command and called 911, Romero said.

Yes, the smart speaker (we don’t know which brand right now), called the cops, because it heard something like a request to do so.

On one level, this is a woman being rescued from a dangerous and abusive situation by technology — and that’s clearly a good thing, for her, at least.

But on another, this is a device we’ve invited into our homes essentially “telling” on us. And while that had a positive outcome in this case, it’s not hard to see situations where that could lead to less positive outcomes, especially in countries under more repressive regimes.

How sure are we that popping “always on” listening devices around our homes is a really good idea?

[via Gizmodo]