Minister refuses to say if she has a smart speaker in her own home

Minister refuses to say if she has a smart speaker in her own home for ‘cyber security’ reasons as Julia Lopez tells MPs ‘any device’ connected to the internet is a risk

• DCMS minister Julia Lopez refuses to tell MPs if she has a smart speaker at home
• She cites ‘cyber security’ reasons for not divulging what devices she possesses
• Ms Lopez warns ‘any device’ connected to the internet ‘creates a level of risk’

A Government minister has refused to tell MPs whether she has a smart speaker in her own home as she cited ‘cyber security’ reasons.

Julia Lopez, a minister at the Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, insisted she would not ‘divulge’ what devices she has personally.

It came as she quizzed about Government efforts to ensure smart and connected technology is safe and secure for households.

Ms Lopez warned that ‘any device’ connected to the internet ‘creates a level of risk’.

But, despite refusing to say if she had a smart speaker herself, she dismissed any suggestion ministers had been told by security chiefs not to use them.

Julia Lopez, a minister at the Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, insisted she would not ‘divulge’ what devices she has personally

Despite refusing to say if she had a smart speaker – such as an Amazon Echo (pictured) – herself, Ms Lopez dismissed any suggestion ministers had been told not to use them 

In November, the Government announced restrictions on the use of Chinese-made security cameras in ‘sensitive’ areas amid fears about snooping via devices connected to Whitehall networks.

Appearing before House of Commons’ Digital, Culture, Media and Sport Committee this morning, Ms Lopez was asked if the National Cyber Security Centre had advised ministers not to use smart speakers.

‘On a personal level? I’ve never been told don’t have a smart speaker,’ she said.

Quizzed on whether she had a smart speaker herself, Ms Lopez then replied: ‘I wouldn’t divulge my security arrangements for my personal life and I don’t think I should divulge exactly which devices I have in my home just as a sort of cyber security measure.

‘I’m not the best when it comes to connected tech, I have to admit. But I think that’s just because I question the use of it in my life, rather than anything else.’

She added: ‘Is it ever wise for a politician to declare what is in their house, how they are secured, and so on? Probably not.’

In response to the minister, Tory committee chair Damian Green said: ‘I would hate to be putting your security at risk.

‘I’m not sure, frankly, whether you have got a smart speaker or not does that.’

Ms Lopez was later pressed on what the risks to households were from smart devices and connected technology. 

‘Any device connected to the internet creates a level of risk to your overall network,’ she said.

‘There are a range of security risks that can come from internet-connected devices and it’s for us as a Department to try and mitigate some of those risks.’

In March last year, a separate committee of MPs looking at proposed new laws on connected technology heard from a cybersecurity expert who revealed she would not ‘trust’ a smart speaker, such as an Amazon Alexa, in her own home.

‘I do not trust them. There we go. I will not have one, because I do not trust it,’ said Professor Madeline Carr, of University College London.

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