Google announced it was bringing back human reviewers to listen to snippets of commands given to Google Assistant, which typically start with “Hey, Google” or “OK, Google.”
James Martin / CNET
You’re probably the only one who listens when you say “Hey, Google” is Google Assistant – the digital, artificially intelligent helper behind your Google Home devices. That’s been the case for almost a year now, since public outcry over the practice of people listening to your recordings prompted Google to join several other tech companies in stopping their human assessment program. Mar a recent announcement by the company indicates that this is changing at the point. But only if you want it.
Last week, Google sent an email to just about anyone who has ever interacted with Google apps, services or devices with their voice – including Google Home users – letting them know that their voice recordings are no longer stored. The email contains a link if you want to subscribe (or back in), but also let you know that doing so means your voice recordings can now be heard by human reviewers.
Here’s what you need to know about what the change means for your privacy, what happens when you sign in and how long Google will keep your recordings.
What’s different about Google Home’s new privacy policy?
Nothing is different about Google Assistant’s privacy policy per se (Google’s Terms of Service have not been updated or changed). Otherwise, Google’s procedures are subject to that policy and possibly your privacy settings as well.
Basically, Google goes back after people check some of the voice recordings that are stored when people interact with their assistant. It has now stopped saving those recordings wholly unless users sign up for the program. (Here’s a direct link to Google’s privacy setting if you want to check or change it.)
Google Home is listening …
Dale Smith / CNET
Which voice recordings?
Google records your voice every time you call Google Assistant by saying the words “Hey, Google” or “OK, Google”, whether through a Google Home smart speaker or display or an Android phone or tablet. Google also records when you use your voice to dictate to Google Search, Google Maps, Gmail, or any other Google service. Google sometimes accidentally registers if something you say to someone else (even someone on TV) sounds too much like Google’s keywords.
Google Home listens to its wake-up call 24 hours a day, and then translates what is then said into commands.
Taylor Martin / CNET
These recordings are then processed on a remote server and translated into commands, which are then executed by Google Assistant, usually on the device where you gave the command (but also on other devices such as smart bulbs, thermostats, etc.)
This setting change controls whether those recordings are deleted or stored in the cloud for six months, 18 months, or in the cloud until you delete them manually.
Why would I want to sign up? What’s there for me?
Google’s email to customers reads, in part, “Stored audio recordings help us improve audio recognition technologies so that products like Google Assistant can understand language even better in the future.” But other than the satisfaction of knowing that you’re helping Google improve their products (if you find that kind of thing satisfying, there really is not much in it for you).
What happens if I stay on rejection? What is the disadvantage?
Other than the fact that you can not access a record of all the commands you have issued to Google Home or Google Assistant, it seems that nothing changes about your actual user experience.
You may not want Google to keep track of things that are said to be private in your home.
James Martin / CNET
Can I save my recordings but not record a human review?
It does not appear so. The choice seems like an all-or-nothing kind of thing. You agree that Google may retain your recordings en maybe human judges have listened, if you haven’t.
Will human reviewers know who I am when I sign up?
Apparently not. According to a video on the privacy setting’s page, Google does not send complete recordings (snippets only) and anonymizes the data before doing so. It looks like human reviewers are unable to trace your voice recordings back to your specific Google Account.
How long will Google hold on to my voice recordings?
If you created your account after June 24, Google will retain your personal data (including voice recordings) for 18 months before deleting it. If your account is older then the default is to never delete it, but you can change it after six or 18 months.
Google Home Smart Home speakers sometimes light up and listen, even if you did not say the alarm words.
Ian Knighton / CNET
If you want a little under the hood, we both have one Manual for changing your global Google privacy settings and separately Google Home Privacy Settings Guide.
Google Home privacy settings are not the only links you may want to pee with. Remember this five settings that you need to change immediately, make sure you have set these music settings right en adjusting this setting is a must if you have more than one Google Home smart speaker.
