@OnTheRoadAgain, not sure if you seek insight or are simply sharing an observation.
Perhaps housesitter, and consumer in general, sensitivity to private data varies a whole lot.
As experienced housesitters then we include Amazon Echo, Google Home, Apple Homepod and equivalent devices under the THS Camera and Recording Policy. Unless any such device is instrumental to property operations then we disconnect them from the power supply for the duration of the housesit. Perhaps some models of some products do not maybe have recording functionality … and perhaps some pet parents may not use such functionality. No matter. We are not going to investigate the functionality of each model of each device by each manufactured. Disconnect.
It would seem useful to both Pet Parents and Housesitters if related THS policy provided definitions.
If violation of THS’s Camera and Recording Policy is grounds for abandoning a sit, does this mean that you would be entitled to abandon a sit on discovering an undeclared Echo? I ask because that is exactly the stand another OP on a different thread asserts. That OP’s threat is to abandon a sit over a device that cannot be used by an HO to surreptitiously listen in on their home nor record audio for later review because of her belief the device is somehow a recording device. My plan B doesn’t cover that kind of uncertainty.
@OnTheRoadAgain, we have never considered abandoning a housesit based on undisclosed amazon echo. This seems an extreme response.
THS related policy does not define “recording device”. Pet parent knowledge or use of any device recording functions likely vary. We suspect many non-disclosures are accidental. We perceive a non-disclosed amazon echo, with no camerw, as materially less invasive than undisclosed internal camera.
I agree in things often forgotten. On a sit now, I went in an extra bedroom to clean up after a nighttime accident by the dog and found a plugged in, turned on nanny cam. This was the only camera in the house and the only child’s room in the house. I just left it alone. Obviously, it is used for visiting grandchild and an oversight. Our first sit, they had Alexa. One day I noticed a light on, for a while. I googled it. Yellow light signifies there is a message. Green light is recording. We continued to enjoy our music throughout the sit. But, if I ever did really think I was being surveilled, I would report and abort sit. I’ll cross that bridge if and when I come to it.
Not quite. The green light indicates an incoming call. It is like your cellphone ringing. If you don’t answer the call, there’s no audio transmitted to the caller. If you do answer, the caller might record from their end but there is no recording by the Echo at your end.
The yellow light indicates the Echo has some information to share. It may be a weather notice, news of the day, Amazon order status changes or something equally innocuous.
Thank you, that makes sense. I mostly checked what yellow light meant.
I’m late to this party but just so you are aware, when someone Drops In on an Echo device you will hear the tone but that is just to make you aware that listening has begun, there is no “accepting” the “call”! It IS a listening device and they CAN listen to you. I recommned turning the microphone off on all Echo and other similar devices upon commencement of the sit.
Unfortunately Echo’s are not like your mobile where you would actually need to answer it for the person on the other end to begin listening. They request to Drop in on that device from the app on their mobile and all you would hear would be the chime to signify listening has begun, and light will turn green. You don’t get to choose whether or not you’re being listened on, all you can do is turn the mic off on that device and hope that’s the only one.
You can always disable the microphone on an Echo or similar device, and I recommend doing that if they’ve not turned those off themselves. Echo’s CAN listen in on you and all the HO has to do is Drop In from the app on their mobile. You’d have some warning as the device will chime and the light will turn green but if you aren’t familiar with that sound you’ll have no idea that’s what’s happening. Just mute the microphone.