New Verizon patent could listen in on customers.

[harlock]

If you step back and look at history, real liberty like we HAD here was only a speck in time.

Very true. We were given the tools to keep it but fucked it up.

[ELMACO510]

I would agree the idea that this would even be considered is absolutely absurd but I don't think there's much cause for concern.

Set-top boxes are going to be obsolete in a few years just as the traditional "cable" service providers like Comcast and Verizon. Everything will be delivered via IP multicast over the internet (see Automatic Multicast w/o Explicit Tunnels - this will bridge the gap until the internet is 100% mcast enabled).

This is why Comcast purchased NBC/ Universal and why there's an ongoing debate over net neutrality. In the future the guy that owns the content wins because the "service providers" will be endless.

Having said that, the internet already provides a high degree of visibility into end user "habits". And that won't change.

I'd say you don't have much to worry about, but if want to error on the side of caution buy some tape to cover those cameras and set this right next to your set-top box.

http://www.brickhousesecurity.com/pr...e+generator.do

[somedude61]

I would agree the idea that this would even be considered is absolutely absurd but I don't think there's much cause for concern.

Set-top boxes are going to be obsolete in a few years just as the traditional "cable" service providers like Comcast and Verizon. Everything will be delivered via IP multicast over the internet (see Automatic Multicast w/o Explicit Tunnels - this will bridge the gap until the internet is 100% mcast enabled).

This is why Comcast purchased NBC/ Universal and why there's an ongoing debate over net neutrality. In the future the guy that owns the content wins because the "service providers" will be endless.

Having said that, the internet already provides a high degree of visibility into end user "habits". And that won't change.

I'd say you don't have much to worry about, but if want to error on the side of caution buy some tape to cover those cameras and set this right next to your set-top box.

http://www.brickhousesecurity.com/pr...e+generator.do

Are you sure it isn't happening now? At least the listening in part. They don't do the directed commercials yet. It wouldn't take much to put a small mic in the cable box and then just leave it on when ever the box is plugged in.

[ELMACO510]

Are you sure it isn't happening now? At least the listening in part. They don't do the directed commercials yet. It wouldn't take much to put a small mic in the cable box and then just leave it on when ever the box is plugged in.

No, its not happening now. Patenting technology is very different from deploying it, or making generally available.

The other part is the legal aspect. When (if) this ever comes to fruition you can expect many lawsuits. Like I said tho, set-top boxes are going away. Major changes in the next 5 years.