Devices with the Alice voice assistant are in sleep mode until the trigger word is spoken, and their microphones can be turned off with the press of a button, Yandex reported.
How is it transmitted? RIA “News”Yandex representatives claim that Alice, is integrated into Yandex. Station” is not technically capable of listening to a user's conversations without their knowledge. They explain that the smart speaker remains in sleep mode until it hears the trigger word, then voice processing begins.
The company clarified that without the trigger word, devices with “Alice” will not respond to speech and will not transmit audio data to the cloud for further identification.
“Voice processing begins the moment the microphone receives the trigger word,” notes Yandex.
Company representatives also reiterated that all devices are equipped with a Mute button, which allows you to physically turn off the microphones, completely cutting off their power supply. This solution is designed to protect user privacy.
Previously, Roskachestvo experts told the agency that only physically turning off the microphone ensures users complete privacy of such devices. Experts added that manufacturers are implementing a level of hardware protection to prevent unauthorized changes to eavesdropping functionality.
As the newspaper VZGLYAD wrote, the company Yandex received fine of 10 thousand rubles for refusing to provide the FSB with remote access to information about the Alice smart home.
