You’re Being Watched 24:7. But You Can Fix That.
Are you being watched 24 hours a day, seven days a week? It’s an exaggeration that’s not far from the truth — especially if you’re a “smart” device enthusiast. Below, we explain the current state of the home surveillance union and review a few simple methods to keep digital snoopers out of your home.
Privacy in the Home
Law enforcement may need a warrant to search your home, but tech companies have practically moved in…with your permission. Jay Stanley, senior policy counsel at the ACLU, recently predicted that we’re on the verge of a “constant surveillance” state.
Remember how we said that police need a search warrant to enter your home? Well, they sometimes don’t need one to subpoena information from tech companies regarding your Echo or AI assistants. At times, they don’t even need to alert you.
What Data Do Your Smart Devices Collect?
Do you ever read the terms before clicking “I agree”? Don’t worry, you’re not alone. According to a Deloitte survey, over 90% of consumers accept legal terms and conditions without even peeking at them. So the question becomes: What do those terms and conditions typically say?
In the simplest terms, when you accept conditions, you’re almost always giving the company permission to collect and profit off your data.
What information do devices inhale? In a word: everything. What you type, what you search. Today’s phones, computers, and tablets can track your habits and interests. Some systems can even detect and collect where you’re sitting — and, perhaps most worryingly, how much time you spend away from home and when.
Who Wants Your Data?
We’ve established that your data is being watched and collected. The next question: Who wants it?
Three groups are on a never-ending quest for personal data: brands, black-hat hackers, and politicos. Companies use it for marketing purposes, black hats typically sell it or use it for scams, and politicos mine it for targeted messaging campaigns.
Governments also want your information, but usually only if it’s in connection to a crime or potential crime. And in those scenarios, they’re able to subpoena tech companies for information, with you never the wiser.
Should You Care That You’re Being Watched?
“All right,” you challenge, “a lot of people can see my information. But I don’t do anything wrong. I have nothing to hide! So what’s the big deal!?”
It’s a common sentiment. According to a Survey Monkey poll managed by Axios, 70% of people are A-OK living with “smart devices” even though they could be used as in-house surveillance systems of Orwellian proportions.
Four Common Sense Tips For Privacy Conscious People
If you want to salvage a sliver of privacy in your home, here are some tips.
- Buy a VPN (virtual private network) for your home network. If you’re computer savvy or can hire a computer savvy person, then set up your own. If not, a commercial product, like protonVPN, is a reliable option.
- Moving into an apartment complex with electric locks and Internet-connected appliances? Be aware that a digital z-wave or bluetooth lock can give others access. If your landlord controls it, demand that you have shared access so that you, too, are aware of the coming and going of anyone who is using it.
- Don’t use the same password for everything, and change them regularly!
Technology erodes privacy. If you want to retain some personal autonomy, install the right protections.