Please ensure Javascript is enabled for purposes of website accessibility

Prime Minister of Yemen’s Houthi Government Killed in Israeli Strike

8 hours ago

Texas Gov. Greg Abbott Signs Law Redrawing Congressional Maps

1 day ago

US Air Force will Offer Military Funeral Honors to Slain Capitol Rioter

1 day ago

US Republican Senator Joni Ernst Will Not Run for Re-Election, CBS News Reports

1 day ago

Wall Street Falls as Dell, Nvidia Drive Tech Losses

1 day ago

US Denies Visas to Palestinian Officials Ahead of UN General Assembly

1 day ago

Minneapolis Children Revealed Courage, Absorbed Fear During Church Shooting

2 days ago

Ford Recalls Nearly 500,000 Vehicles Over Brake Fluid Leak

2 days ago

Fresno-Bound Passenger Says Delta Attendant Slapped Him, Seeks $20M

2 days ago
Opinion: Don’t Dumb Down Our Smart Speakers
gvw_calmatters
By CalMatters
Published 6 years ago on
May 30, 2019

Share

Editor’s note: This commentary is a response to “Legislation seeks to outsmart ‘smart’ speakers,” May 23, 2019.

Voice recognition systems have streamlined our daily activities, from turning on the lights to important reminders about taking medications.  We have only scratched the surface of what is possible with voice recognition systems. But Assembly Bill 1395 by Assemblyman Jordan Cunningham, a Republican from San Luis Obispo, could halt this technology’s advancement.

Opinion

Courtney Jensen
Special to CALmatters

AB 1395 would create barriers to the type of learning that voice recognition technology depends on to unleash its full potential for consumers, and it would impose duplicative security provisions that would do nothing to enhance consumer privacy or device security.

Voice recognition systems rely on machine learning to adapt to users’ speech patterns and vocabulary, and are informed by the way users talk to the device. Our speech is nuanced and dynamic.

Users’ age, whether they are a native or non-native speaker of the language, and whether they have a speech impairment also impacts the voice recognition system’s learning. These variables make training critical to the success of voice recognition systems.

As consumers use devices, companies retain records so real-world data is available to train and improve the technology for the benefit of the consumer. This training has allowed voice recognition systems to become more useful. For example, real world data for training is critical for device learning in order to minimize false wakes, which is when a home speaker is activated unintentionally.

Enhancing Consumers’ Confidence in Devices They Use

Assemblyman Cunningham voiced concerns over devices being activated unintentionally. But his legislation would exacerbate this issue by restricting a company’s ability to avoid false wakes by limiting a manufacturer’s capacity to use stored voice recordings and transcripts to improve the product features.

A company cannot adequately fix bugs if recordings and transcripts can only be retained for the brief time a device needs the information to complete a requested command.

Voice recognition devices are designed with layers of security, privacy protections, and controls to minimize and protect the data collected. California is already a leader on device security.

Under the California Consumer Privacy Act approved last year, Californians can access and delete any voice recordings associated with their devices.  This safeguard gives consumers control over their data. AB 1395 would add layers of unnecessary, confusing, and unworkable mandates that would conflict with the Consumer Privacy Act.

Voice recognition devices are designed with layers of security, privacy protections, and controls to minimize and protect the data collected. California is already a leader on device security.

Legislation to enhance consumers’ confidence in the devices they use is something we can all support. But AB 1395 would do nothing to advance that goal.

Instead, it will make “smart” devices not-so-smart and impact the accessibility of these devices for all consumers, as well as conflict with existing privacy laws.  California has always successfully championed consumers and technology. Legislators should reject AB 1395 because it does neither.

Courtney Jensen is executive director for California and the Southwest of TechNet, cjensen@technet.org. She wrote this commentary for CALmatters, a public interest journalism venture committed to explaining how California’s Capitol works and why it matters.

DON'T MISS

What Are Fresno Real Estate Experts Predicting for 2025 and Beyond?

DON'T MISS

First California EV Mandates Hit Automakers This Year. Most Are Not Even Close

DON'T MISS

Judge Blocks Pillar of Trump’s Mass Deportation Campaign

DON'T MISS

Classic Cars Will Still Need a Smog Test in California After Lawmakers Reject Jay Leno Bill

DON'T MISS

Visalia Driver Arrested for DUI After Multiple Crashes and Pedestrian Injured

DON'T MISS

Dollar Trades Lower With Fed Cut In View, On Course For Monthly Drop

DON'T MISS

Visalia Semi Crash Injures Amazon Truck Driver After Red Light Collision

DON'T MISS

Evacuation of Gaza City Would Be Unsafe and Unfeasible, Says Head of Red Cross

DON'T MISS

A Goodbye Love Note to My Dog: Remembering My Best Friend Harriet

DON'T MISS

Most Trump Tariffs Are Not Legal, US Appeals Court Rules

DON'T MISS

New $250 Visa Fee Risks Deepening US Travel Slump

DON'T MISS

Prime Minister of Yemen’s Houthi Government Killed in Israeli Strike

UP NEXT

Donald Trump’s Assault on Capitalism Is Only Going to Get Worse

UP NEXT

How California Lawmakers Can Trim Up to 20% Off Consumer Electric Bills

UP NEXT

Israel’s Gaza Campaign Is Making It a Pariah State

UP NEXT

Wilted Lettuce. Rotten Strawberries. Here’s What Happens When You Round Up Farmworkers.

UP NEXT

Renewal of CA Cap and Trade Program to Cut Emissions Fraught With Issues

UP NEXT

Joe Castro: A Life Cut Far Too Short, but His Legacy Marches On

UP NEXT

Why Epstein’s Furious Grip on Washington Holds

UP NEXT

I Was Preyed On for My VA Benefits. California Can Stop It

UP NEXT

My Friend Joseph Castro, Former Fresno State President and CSU Chancellor, Is Receiving Hospice Care

UP NEXT

California’s Finances Face a Perfect Storm. It Could Eventually Lead to Another Tax Hike

Dollar Trades Lower With Fed Cut In View, On Course For Monthly Drop

7 hours ago

Visalia Semi Crash Injures Amazon Truck Driver After Red Light Collision

7 hours ago

Evacuation of Gaza City Would Be Unsafe and Unfeasible, Says Head of Red Cross

8 hours ago

A Goodbye Love Note to My Dog: Remembering My Best Friend Harriet

8 hours ago

Most Trump Tariffs Are Not Legal, US Appeals Court Rules

8 hours ago

New $250 Visa Fee Risks Deepening US Travel Slump

8 hours ago

Prime Minister of Yemen’s Houthi Government Killed in Israeli Strike

8 hours ago

California Schools Reverse Truancy Trends. Improving Reading Scores Could Be Next

8 hours ago

High-Speed Rail Hits a New Snag as Lawmakers Reject Proposal to Expedite Construction

8 hours ago

Fresno County Garnet Fire Expands to 17,561 Acres, 8% Contained

8 hours ago

Judge Blocks Pillar of Trump’s Mass Deportation Campaign

WASHINGTON — A federal judge on Friday blocked the Trump administration from carrying out fast-track deportations of people detained far fro...

5 hours ago

Image of man being detained in Denver by ICE agents
5 hours ago

Judge Blocks Pillar of Trump’s Mass Deportation Campaign

California lawmakers killed “Leno’s Law,” a bill to exempt classic cars from smog checks, despite Jay Leno’s support and bipartisan backing. (Shutterstock)
7 hours ago

Classic Cars Will Still Need a Smog Test in California After Lawmakers Reject Jay Leno Bill

A Visalia man was arrested Friday, Aug. 29, 2025, for DUI and other charges after a series of crashes downtown left a pedestrian with minor injuries. (Visalia PD)
7 hours ago

Visalia Driver Arrested for DUI After Multiple Crashes and Pedestrian Injured

7 hours ago

Dollar Trades Lower With Fed Cut In View, On Course For Monthly Drop

An Amazon semi ran a red light and collided with another truck in Visalia early Saturday, Aug. 30, 2025, seriously injuring the driver. (Visalia PD)
7 hours ago

Visalia Semi Crash Injures Amazon Truck Driver After Red Light Collision

Displaced Palestinians ride on a vehicle loaded with belongings as they flee from one area to another within Gaza City, amid an Israeli military operation, in Gaza City, August 29, 2025. (Reuters File)
8 hours ago

Evacuation of Gaza City Would Be Unsafe and Unfeasible, Says Head of Red Cross

Mell Garcia says a heartfelt goodbye to her dog Harriet after 13 years, cherishing their memories and celebrating the love they shared. (Special to GV Wire)
8 hours ago

A Goodbye Love Note to My Dog: Remembering My Best Friend Harriet

President Donald Trump delivers remarks on tariffs in the Rose Garden at the White House in Washington, D.C., U.S., April 2, 2025. (Reuters File)
8 hours ago

Most Trump Tariffs Are Not Legal, US Appeals Court Rules

Search

Help continue the work that gets you the news that matters most.

Send this to a friend