«“The unfortunate reality is there’s a microphone connected to a computer that’s connected to the network,” says Nyx. “And there’s no software patching that will make that not possible to use as a listening device.»

https://www.404media.co/it-looks-like-a-school-vape-detector-a-teen-hacker-showed-it-could-become-an-audio-bug/

(Courtesy of https://infosec.exchange/@josephcox/114993289485905184, via https://mstdn.io/@ApostateEnglishman@mastodon.world )

So, theoretically, we have laws in place that cell phone companies can’t triangulate your location unless it’s an emergency or there’s a warrant.

I’m assuming we have nothing like that in place for wifi and bluetooth, so, while you’re walking around with your radio-emitting device, you’re basically broadcasting your location.

Now, we have you walking around with your sound- and visible-light-emitting self, available for detection by any microphone- or pinhead-camera-equipped device, with the possibility of your voice and actions being monitored and acted upon.

Sounds great if you’re defending against “criminals”, but… really? We’re ok with conversations being monitored?

Of course not, but the tech isn’t going away. So, we get to write laws (like, say, THE FOURTH AND FOURTEENTH AMENDMENTS) and have judicial decisions (ha) support them. And after that: massive lawsuits. Class-action-type stuff.

So, as a vendor or a purchaser of said tech: think twice.