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dutch777

(5,050 posts)
Wed Mar 18, 2026, 11:38 AM 5 hrs ago

Be aware, your devices are sharing a lot of data and not just with you but about you.

My son is an electrical engineer for a large tech company. He works on hardware for devices they call "wearables", which can include rings, bracelets, glasses, etc. that monitor a host of health and user data and interests the owner may select. He got into the field having worked with Apple on the iPhone and then was hired away. He bemoans the marginal designs and premature product launches with what he considers substandard gear compared to the quality and security standards he learned at Apple. I asked him why he thought that was and he said it is very simple. The usability of the device for the owner is not most tech companies top priority, getting the data the device collects is. This is especially true of companies that are really software companies as what they seek is data that they then can sell to advertisers and others that want a fine bead on what people are doing, interested in and willing to pay attention to or money for. And the next generation idea is to have these devices monitor not only things like heart rate and what you want to watch or listen to or are querying, but what you are actually seeing and saying. The selling point, in conjunction with AI, is that you can have your whole day watched and listened to and then you can get a summary of every event and interaction you had that day. Having worked in a fast paced environment where there were lots of meetings and side bar conversations that I had a hard time remembering the the next day, this would have been very tempting in my working life. But imagine the data being collected for Big Data...or Big Brother.

His company has just instituted an AI system that will monitor all company email and assemble summaries and stats of specific subjects. The stated reason is that this will help workers and managers have a clear glimpse of what the work flow is and what projects, issues, etc. are eating up what percentage of the workday that day, week, month and year. Really glad my work life is behind me.

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harumph

(3,226 posts)
1. Yeah, I don't wear that shit - nor do my adult kids.
Wed Mar 18, 2026, 11:44 AM
5 hrs ago

There was an incident about 3 years ago where military personnel wearing apple watches were location trackable without their
knowledge. There's a reason you have to remove those devices when entering a secured facility. Just more solutions to problems that don't exist.

ret5hd

(22,473 posts)
7. you drive it...
Wed Mar 18, 2026, 01:24 PM
3 hrs ago

you watch tv on it
you refrigerate your food in it
you wear it on your wrist
you use it every time you buy stuff using a loyalty card
you are subjected to it every time you drive past a FLOCK camera
you are subjected to it every time you order from amazon et al

etc et etc

(not YOU personally, but the royal you)

harumph

(3,226 posts)
8. Of course you can't avoid being surveilled (agreed), but you don't have to make it easier.
Wed Mar 18, 2026, 01:39 PM
3 hrs ago

Moostache

(11,151 posts)
2. Eventually - whether by desire or necessity - people will realize we have ONE weapon in this fight, ONE...
Wed Mar 18, 2026, 11:45 AM
5 hrs ago

And its NOT voting...

The weapon is a flat out general strike and total end to discretionary spending on ALL tech items and gizmos. Also necessary is a destruction and total tear down of social media companies and the imprisoning of their CEOs and boards for actions that are essentially crimes against humanity as relates to their pursuit (blind) of AI and their fervent wishes to proceed no matter the risks or possible consequences regardless.

The only way this can be slowed or reversed is a retreat from the gadgets and a turning off of the spigot of spending that drives all of it. Live in a manner consistent with the 1990s and 95% of the tech bros will be bankrupt in a year.

SergeStorms

(20,480 posts)
12. Good luck.
Wed Mar 18, 2026, 02:36 PM
2 hrs ago

People are addicted to screens, gadgets, keyboards, etc. Manufacturers made sure of that. Trying to pry these "devices" from their cold, dead hands will never happen. Have you seen the lines outside of an Apple store every time they launch a new version of their portable gold mines?
The world, as we once knew it, is no more, and there's absolutely nothing that will change that. Addiction is a terrible thing.

Moostache

(11,151 posts)
17. Slaves to the very thing that is going to kill their jobs, their health, and very lives...sad but true. (n/t)
Wed Mar 18, 2026, 05:07 PM
12 min ago

Ponietz

(4,296 posts)
3. Since criminals find it more difficult to anonymously commit crimes anymore
Wed Mar 18, 2026, 11:52 AM
5 hrs ago

they do them out in the open, in broad daylight. The rest of us are scrutinized and curated by BIG EYE. Type a word like *omb and BIG EYE will spam a call to your cell to check up on you.

highplainsdem

(61,787 posts)
4. K&R! I've been warning people here about wearables and data being collected from both the wearer and the
Wed Mar 18, 2026, 12:16 PM
5 hrs ago

people around them. AI data-gathering, too. A couple of the threads I posted yesterday:

"Sensorveillance" Turns Ordinary Life Into Evidence: How our everyday devices became police informants by default (IEEE)
https://www.democraticunderground.com/100221103588

Sears Exposed AI Chatbot Phone Calls and Text Chats to Anyone on the Web
https://www.democraticunderground.com/10143633975


I was glad to read that Sam Altman has been running into roadblocks with his new gadget:

Good news! Sam Altman's new gadget we'll all supposedly want as a 3rd AI device (w/phone+computer) is hitting roadblocks
https://www.democraticunderground.com/100221036040

PuraVidaDreamin

(4,588 posts)
6. I have been debating getting a Garmin fenex
Wed Mar 18, 2026, 12:46 PM
4 hrs ago

I ride a mountain bike and hike on trails in some deep woods. I love exploring new to me trails
but and don't wish to get too lost. I do have Strava on my iphone, but can lose connection.
I thought a Garmin would be safe. Now, not sure.

PuraVidaDreamin

(4,588 posts)
16. I used to do that once upon a time.
Wed Mar 18, 2026, 04:56 PM
23 min ago

I definitely should incorporate this into
my prepper kit. Jebus, never thought
I'd have a prepper kit.

hunter

(40,644 posts)
13. I've banned all advertising on my electronic devices, including my television.
Wed Mar 18, 2026, 02:58 PM
2 hrs ago

Junk mail goes straight in the recycling bin.

I have a primitive cell phone with no "apps."

My computers run Linux. My truck has no "smart" electronics and no connectivity to any "cloud."

I suspect that makes any information that's collected from me much less valuable.

Whatever "they" are selling, I'm not buying. It's quite possible I don't even know the product exists.

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