Microsoft contractors are still listening to some requests made to its Cortana intelligent assistant, as well as some Skype calls.
The revelation follows decisions by Apple, Google, and Facebook to suspend their human review processes for now, and Amazon giving Alexa users the ability to opt-out…
May 06, 2020 Go to Skype.com (or web.skype.com) in your web browser on a Windows or Mac computer, then sign in with your Skype ID and password or Microsoft Account. There is no need to download the Skype.
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Background
The controversy around using human beings to listen to recorded requests made to intelligent assistants began back in April when it was revealed that Amazon was using this approach to help improve the Alexa voice assistant in its range of Echo speakers and other products.
Amazon employs “thousands of people around the world” to listen to voice recordings captured through its Echo devices. Some of the employees work full-time for Amazon, while some are independent contractors […]
The goal of this tactic by Amazon is “eliminate gaps in Alexa’s understanding of human speech and help it better respond to commands,” the report explains.
A Guardian report in July revealed that Apple was doing the same thing with Siri requests. The Cupertino company confirmed this.
“A small portion of Siri requests are analysed to improve Siri and dictation. User requests are not associated with the user’s Apple ID. Siri responses are analysed in secure facilities and all reviewers are under the obligation to adhere to Apple’s strict confidentiality requirements.” The company added that a very small random subset, less than 1% of daily Siri activations, are used for grading, and those used are typically only a few seconds long.
Apple this month suspended the practice, and said that customers will be able to opt-out when it resumes. Google and Facebook did the same thing, while Amazon added an opt-out option.
Microsoft contractors continuing to listen
Motherboard, however, reports that Microsoft contractors are continuing to listen to both Cortana requests and Skype calls. The only change the company has made is to update its privacy policy and other webpages to make the practice transparent.
“We realized, based on questions raised recently, that we could do a better job specifying that humans sometimes review this content,” a Microsoft spokesperson told Motherboard in an emailed statement on Tuesday.
Whereas before neither Microsoft’s privacy policy or the Skype Translator FAQ made it clear that humans may listen to customer’s captured audio in order to improve the service, a stance that privacy experts criticized, Microsoft has updated both pages and others on its website.
“Our processing of personal data for these purposes includes both automated and manual (human) methods of processing,” the company’s privacy policy now reads.
Contractors listen to Skype calls only when you’re using the built-in Skype Translator service, to help improve the accuracy of machine translations.
Microsoft says that it has procedures to protect user privacy.
Including taking steps to de-identify data, requiring non-disclosure agreements with vendors and their employees, and requiring that vendors meet the high privacy standards set out in European law and elsewhere.
There is no opt-out, though you can delete existing recordings.
With Apple always the highest-profile company in these matters, it came as no surprise when it was hit with a class-action lawsuit over the manual grading process.
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Read this topic to learn about hardware, software, and infrastructure requirements for running Skype for Business on a Mac. Best xcode for el capitan version.
The Skype for Business on Mac Client is available for download.
Hardware and software requirements for Skype for Business on Mac
The Skype for Business on Mac client requires Mac OS X El Capitan and higher, and uses at least 100MB of disk space. We support the use of all built-in audio and video devices. External devices must be in the Skype for Business Solutions Catalog.
Note
This list is preliminary and some devices may be qualified for Lync, but not supported on Skype for Business on the Mac.Refer to the System requirements for the minimum hardware required.
Legacy Mac clients
Skype for Business Server 2015 also supports the following legacy clients on computers that are running Mac OS 10.5.8 or latest service pack or release (Intel-based) operating systems (Mac OS 10.9 operating system is not currently supported). For details about supported features, see Desktop client feature comparison for Skype for Business.
These clients are not supported by Skype for Business Server 2019.
Macos Skype For BusinessInfrastructure requirements for Skype for Business on Mac
The Skype for Business on Mac client leverages both the Unified Communications Management Platform (UCMP) as well as the Unified Communications Web API (UCWA) that our mobility clients use.
The client has the same requirements as our mobility clients in that you must have an Access Edge Server and Reverse Proxy deployed in a supported configuration.
AuthenticationMicrosoft Skype For Business Mac Os
The Skype for Business on Mac client supports Cert-based authentication, Microsoft Modern Authentication, and Multi-Factor Authentication when deployed and enabled.
Note
Due to a current limitation, the user's Exchange credentials must be the same as their Skype for Business credentials.
Certificates
Certificates in use on the Access Edge, Reverse Proxy and Front End servers must not use the SHA-512 hash algorithm.
Skype
The HTTP Certificate Revocation List must be defined and accessible by the client. For example, we don't support an LDAP entry in the certificate as your Certificate Revocation List.
Skype For MacDNSDownload Skype For Mac Os X
Mobility must be properly deployed for the Skype for Business on the Mac client to function properly. A common failure scenario is to have both of the following DNS entries resolvable on the internal network:
For more information, refer to: Deploying Mobility in Lync Server 2013, and the Microsoft Lync Server 2010 Mobility Guide.
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