Information security/privacy via a decoupled security accessory to an always listening device

A first always-listening-capable computing device decoupled from and associated with a second computing device, comprising:

• a first electronic sensor configured to receive user input comprising utterances or gestures,
• a second electronic sensor configured to receive a signal indicating that a user has depressed a button,
• a gate-keeping module implemented by a processor, wherein all data received by the communications module based on data from the first electronic sensor passes through the gate-keeping module while a gatekeeping function is disabled, wherein no data based on data from the first electronic sensor passes through the communications module while the gatekeeping function is enabled, wherein all data input to the gate-keeping module is received via an exclusive input lead from the first electronic sensor, and wherein all data output from the gate-keeping module is transmitted via an exclusive output lead to a component other than the first electronic sensor;
• and
• non-transitory memory storing instructions that, when executed by a processor, causes the processor to:
• receive, via the second electronic sensor, the signal indicating that the user has depressed the physical button;
• and
• enable or disable a functionality of the second computing device responsive to determining that the user has depressed the button.