WARNING!!!

The Electronic Privacy Information Center (EPIC) sent a letter last week to the Federal Trade Commission and the Justice Department asking regulators to look into “always on” technology. The group cited technology from Microsoft, Amazon, Google and others as worrisome.

EPIC fears the average consumer isn’t aware that some of these devices are actually spying on them by recording their conversations even when the device seems to be turned off. The privacy implications of these devices, which they believe infringe on individual rights, is profound.

The companies say the devices are only engaged in “conversation” when triggered by a “hotword” or a certain gesture. However, those designs can’t be counted on to always work as planned and could cause accidental recordings.

If you’re worried about your privacy, here’s a list from EPIC that can help you audit your chances of staying anonymous.

Related: As tech firms track your location, advertisers zero in for the sale


Google Chrome

The browser is reportedly able to remotely install code that allows the software to listen to users without their knowledge. The code was originally designed to support Chrome’s new “OK, Google” hotword detection, which activates a computer response when you talk to it. However, some users claim the code was installed and activated on their computers without them giving their permission.

Google responded to these complaints on its Chromium developer boards. “While we do download the hotword module on startup, we do not activate it unless you opt in to hotwording,” the company wrote. Some developers question this claim.


Samsung SmartTV

The Samsung SmartTV has a built-in microphone that is equipped with voice recognition technology that allows users to give verbal commands to the TV. In order for Samsung to convert your speech to text, the voice commands are sent over the Internet to a third-party for interpretation.

However, since the TV is “always on,” the microphone is recording every word you’re saying at all times. Even in its SmartTV privacy policy, Samsung acknowledges that all spoken words, including personal or other sensitive information, are sent unencrypted to the third party.

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