Bose Accused Its Headphones Spy on Users

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http://news.softpedia.com/news/bose-accused-its-headphones-spy-on-users-515013.shtml

Wireless headphones company Bose is being sued for allegedly tracking the music, podcasts, and other audio users listen to, putting that information to use by selling it.

The accusations were included in a complaint that was recently filed in a federal court in Chicago. Millions of dollars in damages are demanded for Bose users.

The lawsuit states that Bose used the Bose Connect app to spy on users. This is the tool that customers use to pair the headphones to their devices in order to manage software updates and more. Bose has pushed users to install this particular app in order to "get the most" out of their headphones, asking for people's information when signing in, such as their email address, name, and the headphone's serial number.

The individual signing the complaint is Kyle Zak, who accuses Bose of completely disregarding their users' privacy. Lawyers reprezenting Zak ... (read more)

 

[Deletedmessiah]

Now headphones spy too? Whats next?

 

[Winter Soldier]

Now headphones spy too? Whats next?

Agreed...sadly.

 

[cruelsister]

I don't know if this one will fly legally as it depends on the actions of third parties:

From the Bose privacy policy:

"These third parties may use SDKs or other tracking mechanisms to collect information from the app and from your device. Such parties may include crash and bug analytics providers like Crashlytics and service providers like Segment that enable us to better control data from the app and direct it to third-party analytics providers."

The above will be the case for just about everything you use so should not be considered specific for Bose.

So, yeah, Bose is responsible, but only Kinda-Sorta (this being said, I am glad I'm not a Shareholder!)

 

[Entreri]

Every electronic device now appears to be spying on the user, and of course more high-tech the faster they tend to fail, even household appliances.

Watching everything you 24/7, all this info eventually going to various "intelligence" agencies.

 

[frogboy]

So far I am happy I have stayed away from all IoT devices.

 

[Weebarra]

Still a bit sneaky though .... isn't it. Hardly anyone ever reads all the gumph (well i certainly don't, i just click agree after seeing the first few sentences) and companies know that.

 

[Tony Cole]

I personally thing (just like with Trump) it's all allowed of nonsense. The whole world listening to Edward Snowden is fixed on every company and everyone obsessed with being spy'd and listened to.

 

[Solarquest]

Now headphones spy too? Whats next?

Incredible! Dishwasher, Waschmaschine, oven, Thermostat, Headset...Next will be toothbrush, heardryer, doorbell, ...

 

[Solarquest]

So far I am happy I have stayed away from all IoT devices.

+1.... Unfortunately it's getting very difficult to get devices not connected somehow to internet....

 

[Ana_Filiz]

Rather than spying here the case is of data collection in commercial purposes. So it`s a kind of robbing.

 

[Vipersd]

And with hacking those apps is it posible to eavesdrop someone. Someones life could be ruined for no reason other than greed of those companies. First vere cameras now headphones.

It is not the question will it happen but when will it happen.

There is no international law that safeguards privacy on the internet. Which is grey area where companies now play their game of colecting informations for advertising and comercial uses.

I'm felling robed somehow, why should someone get rich over my privacy. If we can not stop this trend then at least give us 50% of the income that they got beacause of our personal information.

 

[Kubla]

Incredible! Dishwasher, Waschmaschine, oven, Thermostat, Headset...Next will be toothbrush, heardryer, doorbell, ...

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[jamescv7]

Irresponsible and possibly intentional.

Headphones, earphones, headset are already possible from a research testing about hacking the sound communication with a nifty vulnerability; and not surprise if a single concept may use for gathering information.

There are so many ways to make the product as a smoke screen for such interest.

 

[russ0408]

I knew there was a reason I use Sony. lol

 

[GonzitoVir]

I knew there was a reason I use Sony. lol

Sony BMG copy protection rootkit scandal - Wikipedia

 

[browneylad]

Is anything sacred anymore?

Nope not asking for a friend. I use Sony too..

 

[ForgottenSeer 58943]

Now headphones spy too? Whats next?

Dildos? Oh wait..

A Sex Toy App Is Recording Orgasm Data Without Users Knowing About It

IoT is the wild west and those old relics in Washington don't even know what half of it is to even pass legislation to protect people. Pathetic. Also, you can be sure ALL OF THIS is ending up in the hands of intelligence divisions.

Oh, Sony is the worst.. They've been implicated in planting malware/spyware for decades.

 

[Entreri]

Any "smart" device I expect it to be spying on me.

 

[browneylad]

All the corporate gizmos are taking customer satisfaction far too seriously soon there will be touch sensitive tissue papers detecting & sending all data it can gather about me to some virtual machine :X3: