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A comment on Amazon terminates iRobot deal, vacuum maker to lay off 31% of staff. Parent comment

Re:Amazon terminates iRobot deal, vacuum maker to lay off 31... by elefanten on Monday January 29, 2024 @07:11PM (#39184597)
This is completely ignorant of how influence works and how espionage assets are developed.

A foreign entity would have no obstructions to using collected information as ruthlessly as possible, whereas even a corrupt/politically-motivated/unrestrained domestic entity would have to weigh the comparatively massive risk of being implicated or exposed.

“what are they going to do with it?”

If you have valuable information or responsibilities, that could be motivation enough for foreign agents to seek leverage. If you don’t, then it’s equally fantastic to think the CIA gives a shit about you for some reason.

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Re:Amazon terminates iRobot deal, vacuum maker to lay off 31... by treprinum on Tuesday January 30, 2024 @05:56AM (#39188618)
We are talking about a vacuum cleaner that is 99% of the time parked in some closet. What kind of valuable information are they going to get? Now compare it with Amazon Echo, your TV with a webcam/microphone, your smartphone - those are far higher risks.
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