> How about we not make the default that companies can do whatever they want and users have to take steps like a hardware-muted mic
You're implying government policy for how companies operate in this area... Which is worth pursuing, but we all know that usually ends up half way effective, requires a cat and mouse game of auditing and enforcement, or big companies playing fight club math with the fines.
Even if this was already the case for this particular issue, as users we end up never really being sure if a company is violating that particular requirement.
> users have to take steps like a hardware-muted mic (which isn't always an option) to ensure a basic expectation of privacy?
This should be the default, just like how operating systems and networking evolved over the past 30 years starting with a "trusts everyone" attitude towards a "trust no one" by default. We need to assume most companies are potential bad actors, the hardware and software that comprises the basic operation of our device needs to provide the user with facilities to control flow of information separate from third parties, especially when it comes to input devices. In the case of microphones and cameras hardware switches should be the norm, or at minimum indicator lights.
This could also quite easily be a government policy for hardware vendors, and I suspect it would be more effective... It only has to reach a threshold after which users expectations shift to force manufacturers hands, so it's direct effect need not be as comprehensive to be effective.
You're implying government policy for how companies operate in this area... Which is worth pursuing, but we all know that usually ends up half way effective, requires a cat and mouse game of auditing and enforcement, or big companies playing fight club math with the fines.
Even if this was already the case for this particular issue, as users we end up never really being sure if a company is violating that particular requirement.
> users have to take steps like a hardware-muted mic (which isn't always an option) to ensure a basic expectation of privacy?
This should be the default, just like how operating systems and networking evolved over the past 30 years starting with a "trusts everyone" attitude towards a "trust no one" by default. We need to assume most companies are potential bad actors, the hardware and software that comprises the basic operation of our device needs to provide the user with facilities to control flow of information separate from third parties, especially when it comes to input devices. In the case of microphones and cameras hardware switches should be the norm, or at minimum indicator lights.
This could also quite easily be a government policy for hardware vendors, and I suspect it would be more effective... It only has to reach a threshold after which users expectations shift to force manufacturers hands, so it's direct effect need not be as comprehensive to be effective.