Sonos app can turn a disabled Sonos One microphone back on - privacy issue?

I believe this is part of the Sonos Skill enabling process - not unreasonable to think that someone would want the mic on if they are enabling voice control of a device.

That still leaves the question though... if the Sonos controller can do it over the network, can others too? If the controller can't, and it's an action that the speaker itself is taking because of the addition of a voice service, there should be some notification in the app that the mic is being enabled.

True but all software controlled actions can by definition be undertaken in certain scenarios. If one goes down the route of having no trust in the IT infrastructure then in my opinion you are going down the route of no IoT or internet in general connectivity. However I think the average consumer want's something that 'works' and that means 'enabling' certain functions or capabilities to ensure that the average person can make technology work for them in a normal expected manner.

For us having a mike or camera in any connected device is a major sticking point. We disable them on almost everything we bring home and have skipped purchasing devices that are hard to disable or that disabling would be a warranty issue.

Adding a manual privacy switch to any device is going to become more and more important as folks learn how to break into them and collect private conversations and video.

Hi all, here's some information that might help fill in some gaps.

The process of enabling voice services on a Sonos One, authorizes the One with your Alexa account. The player knows that when it’s first authorized with an Alexa account it should turn on the microphone, and will do so, even if you’ve turned it off previously.

This setup process requires logging in to both your Sonos account and your Amazon Alexa account. You can, of course, turn the microphone off again just by tapping on the microphone icon. Also, the LED is hardware linked with the microphone’s state, so you’ll always know when the microphone is on.

I'll pass along your sentiment wanting a manual privacy switch for devices, Stanley, the team always is looking for feedback.

For us having a mike or camera in any connected device is a major sticking point. We disable them on almost everything we bring home and have skipped purchasing devices that are hard to disable or that disabling would be a warranty issue.

Adding a manual privacy switch to any device is going to become more and more important as folks learn how to break into them and collect private conversations and video.

This is precisely why I have no intention of buying the Play One. I WILL NOT have any open mics or cameras in my house. At some point people are going to push back and push back hard. Some lady in Seattle just had a casual conversation sent to her from over 100mi away. Her Amazon listening device had recorded her conversation and sent it to a random person.

Hi all, here's some information that might help fill in some gaps.

The process of enabling voice services on a Sonos One, authorizes the One with your Alexa account. The player knows that when it’s first authorized with an Alexa account it should turn on the microphone, and will do so, even if you’ve turned it off previously.

This setup process requires logging in to both your Sonos account and your Amazon Alexa account. You can, of course, turn the microphone off again just by tapping on the microphone icon. Also, the LED is hardware linked with the microphone’s state, so you’ll always know when the microphone is on.

I'll pass along your sentiment wanting a manual privacy switch for devices, Stanley, the team always is looking for feedback.

The problem is, I don't want to have to go around and check all of my LED indicators on my devices, every time I come home from work and expect to have a private conversation with anyone in my family. If there isn't a hardware switch, it's not secure. If you don't believe me, just look at all of the people that have tape over their notebook cameras. "But the light will go on if the camera is on." was what everyone assured us. That is, until the cameras began turning on without the light going on.

The problem is, I don't want to have to go around and check all of my LED indicators on my devices, every time I come home from work and expect to have a private conversation with anyone in my family. If there isn't a hardware switch, it's not secure. If you don't believe me, just look at all of the people that have tape over their notebook cameras. "But the light will go on if the camera is on." was what everyone assured us. That is, until the cameras began turning on without the light going on.

I know where you're coming from, my wife has always kept the camera lens covered on the devices she can cover. However, the LED on the Sonos One is physically connected to the microphones to where if they are getting power, the LED has power. There is no, and will be no software way to change that. So you can be sure that if the LED is off, the microphones aren't listening (assuming someone hasn't opened up your Sonos One and broken the LED or the wiring to the light). While the button on top isn't a hardware switch that cuts off the circuit, we did design the Sonos One it with your security and privacy in mind.

Thanks Ryan.

I quit reading about the new playbar when I got to the mikes, no physical disconnect switch no sale here.