Everything is spying on you and there's no opting out

The article examines the rise of ambient surveillance devices from major tech companies, particularly Apple's new Apple Watch features that continuously listen and transcribe speech, and Meta's smart glasses. Privacy experts like Chris Gilliard and Jenna Sherman of UltraViolet argue that "warn and record" designs—such as blinking lights and chime sounds—don't constitute meaningful consent but merely shift privacy burdens from companies to consumers and bystanders. Sherman stresses that opt-out models are not consent and that such devices disproportionately impact women and marginalized groups vulnerable to sexualized violence. Despite these concerns, growing public backlash against surveillance technology—including vandalism of Flock cameras, protests against AI data centers, bans on smart glasses in establishments, and apps like "AntiZuck Smart Glasses Scanner"—shows people are resisting. The article concludes that tech companies are underestimating consumer power and that the industry has long been gradually eroding expectations of privacy under the guise of convenience, using a "boiling frog" strategy.

(Source：The Verge)