“However, I question why my entire smart home system had to be rendered unusable”
I question why any sentient being would have a Ring doorbell, Alexis, smart refrigerator, wifi-connected Roomba, etc.
I get that my phone and TV can listen and watch — and probably are — so take care to not exercise my First Amendment rights even in my own home.
I got new German-made hearing aids a couple months ago. The audiologist said I could download an “app” to my phone to control their performance. I don’t put apps on the phone, but thought I would try this one.
The first thing the app told me was that I had to turn my cell phone locator device on, which I keep turned off. Why the h-ll does it need to know my geographic location to adjust my Blue Tooth hearing aids 3 feet away? That app was deleted and I will go with the audiologist settings on the hearing aids.
I would have sent the hearing aid company negative customer feedback, but, being good Germans, they didn’t ask for any.