Irish Examiner view: 'Alexa, when is it smarter to turn off the smart speakers altogether?'

Oireachtas staff have been warned about sharing confidential information within 'earshot' of smart speakers listening in nearby

Many homes are swathed in smart technology and we may have to check how many of our devices are listening in and passing our information on for commercial gain. Picture: iStock

Who among us hasn’t paused to wonder at that modern marvel that is the smart speaker, and speculated on the manner in which it serves us? 

An impromptu conversation on the merits of pizza and, hey presto, delivery advertisements appear on your smartphone. Idle speculation about going to see, let’s say, the Eagles in concert, is followed, abracadabra, by a tempting ticket offer. Your partner tells you that your jeans no longer fit, and you become targeted with promises of denim.