If you look at it, it's just "it's ill-intent based on what it is, regardless of intent".

Which is.. a dumb statement, but also just the usual social media outrage one-upping in lingo that passes the letter of the law of HN.

Effectively, the user just said that things are bad in response to an implicit "let us examine why, how, and what to do about it". Which is known, but unhelpful and derailing.

And.. somehow also hinted at that I'd not be aligned enough, because my definition of ill-intent being based on intent is not shared.

Anyway.

I read it more as them disagreeing with at what point it's "intent" - is it bad to give yourself the option to record all customers without consent or does it only become bad once they actually turn it on (remotely) and start shipping it.

Having said that, you might be right given the follow up to you