Google probes leak of smart speaker recordings

Google is investigating how 1,000 conversations recorded by one of its smart audio system had been leaked.

Belgian broadcaster VRT uncovered the recordings made by Google Home units in Belgium and the Netherlands.

The search big mentioned the recordings got here from one of the human reviewers who helps to refine Home’s linguistic skills.

It mentioned it took steps to guard the privateness of individuals whose recordings its reviewers sampled.

Critical assessment

VRT mentioned the bulk of the recordings it reviewed had been quick clips logged by the Google Home units as homeowners used them.

However, it mentioned, 153 had been “conversations that should never have been recorded” as a result of the wake phrase of “OK Google” was not given.

These unintentionally recorded exchanges included:

• blazing rows
• bed room chatter
• mother and father speaking to their youngsters
• cellphone calls exposing confidential info

It mentioned it believed the units logged these conversations as a result of customers mentioned a phrase or phrase that sounded much like “OK Google” that triggered the system.

Responding in its weblog to the VRT expose, Google mentioned it shared recordings with specialists who “understand the nuances and accents” of particular languages to make its speaker extra correct.

“This is a critical part of the process of building speech technology,” it mentioned, including that the storing of recordings is turned off by default when individuals begin utilizing its Home units.

It added that it was probing how one of its contractors had been in a position to give VRT entry to the database of recorded chatter.

“Our security and privacy response teams have been activated on this issue, are investigating, and we will take action,” it wrote.