google chrome hijacks microphones attached to your computer to spy on you

[haxartus]

How do you really think "Ok Google" works ? With magic ?
It has to be listening to you at all time to recognize that.

[breadisfunny]

That is America reasoning and America isn't stupid.

you calling us smart? THEM'S FIGHTING WORDS!

[Nachturnal]

you calling us smart? THEM'S FIGHTING WORDS!

Dems fihtin' werds*****

[Deleted]

Even if the feature is harmless, installing it by bypassing security audits that FOSS should go through by being a trusted upstream is pretty damnable by itself. I've never used Chromium or Chrome but this is another tick on the list of reasons why I won't.

[Deleted]

Oh great, our microphones are listening to us. Of course they are! The extend of what they do with that data is flexible, though. It would be a slightly bigger problem if they were actually saving that data. And even if they were, there's millions of people, no one is specifically going to listen to your conversations. Or actually care about them. Do you care about anyone hearing your conversation when you're in the supermarket? No? Then why do you now?

[Ulfric Trumpcloak]

Spy away. I'm just your average Joe, nothing to hide.

[Xenonn]

good thing i've been on FF for years then

[Common Sense]

OH so when the 2nd coming of Christ, Google, does it, it's totally cool and just a "feature," but when the government does it, it's a horrible infringement of privacy. Hypocrites.

[Deleted]

OH so when the 2nd coming of Christ, Google, does it, it's totally cool and just a "feature," but when the government does it, it's a horrible infringement of privacy. Hypocrites.

Difference is that Google is not using the data (yet). I personally don't care either way.

[Danuru]

If I understand correctly, getting upset at this is similar to getting up in arms about the stupid voice activation thingy that's been in cars and phones for like a decade. Am I understanding this right?

[Deleted]

If you have nothing to hide, why does it matter?

Would you mind terribly if I broke into your home and spied on you while taking a shower? After all, you have nothing to hide.

Why is it that hard for people to understand that not everyone is willing to relinquish privacy so easily?

[Kezotar]

Microphone is always off. And my camera is turned backwards if I'm not using it.
But this absolutely will make me delete chrome. Thanks.

- - - Updated - - -

If you have nothing to hide, why does it matter?

I have my private life to hide. I don't want people listening to my conversations. Hence why it's my "Private" life.
If I really wanted them to tape everything or listen to everything I was doing I'd send them a tape.

[Only the Best]

If Google is that interested in hearing me jerk off, I am happy to oblige.

[Doctor Amadeus]

That's kind of awesome, I always wanted to be on TV.


Hi MOM!

[Deleted]

I wish software had more obvious warnings.

At least my smartphone tells me when a app wants access to all my dataz. Browser plugins do to. Just the browser itself doesnt.

[apepi]

You understand that PIA is a internet vpn service? Kinda biased source if you ask me. I do have them as a vpn though.

[Deleted]

People uninstalling Chrome before even checking settings and realising it's not even turned on by default are laughable. You jump at the slightest hint of "privacy breach" while owning mobile phones, owning microphones, webcams, using the internet through an ISP, hell, even have conversations *gasp, shudder* outdoors, where any number of onlookers could be listening.

The article is closer to clickbait than fact, sure it might be for the linux release - but its more a complaint at how "we linux folks trusted google to not go through our rigorous line by line open source code checking and they betrayed us".

Anything with voice activation will have this feature, and if you click settings its off by default anyway. Also - again, nobody is paid to listen to the billions of average joes sitting around doing average things.

[Hey There Guys its Metro]

I already reported Google.

[Bryntrollian]

They wouldn't be able to hear anything but bass heavy music anyway

[BrerBear]

Don't worry, your TV isn't listening to you either.
Except when it is.