CSAT 2024

Paragraph: Now-a-days there is a growing trend to use interconnected home devices.

As consumers increasingly network their homes, the connected home device manufacturers and service providers will seek to overcome “thin profit margins by gathering more of our personal data-with or without our agreement turning the home into a corporate storefront”. Corporate marketers will have powerful incentives to observe consumer behaviour to understand the buying needs and preferences of the device owners.

Q. Which one of the following statements best reflects the most logical, rational, and practical message implied by the passage?
a) Knowledge of consumer behaviour leads to more capital expenditure in manufacturing sector.
b) Knowledge of consumer behaviour stimulates the growth of commerce and trade and thus helps in the overall economic development of the country.
c) Interconnected devices give a lot of comfort to home users and improve the overall quality of life.
d) Interconnected devices can be at security risk and home users may have privacy risk.
Correct answer: d) Interconnected devices can be at security risk and home users may have privacy risk.

Question from UPSC Prelims 2024 CSAT

Explanation : 

The paragraph focuses on how manufacturers of connected home devices plan to overcome low profit margins by collecting personal data from consumers, potentially without their consent. The key phrase “with or without our agreement” suggests a clear privacy risk. The text also mentions using homes as “corporate storefronts” and observing consumer behavior, indicating potential security vulnerabilities and privacy invasion.

The other options either discuss unrelated aspects (economic development, manufacturing) or only focus on benefits (comfort, quality of life) which aren’t the main concern raised in the passage. The passage’s central message is a warning about privacy and security risks in connected homes.

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