Facebook may launch smart speakers internationally before U.S. amid privacy concerns

Speaking in San Jose, California at Facebook's F8 gathering of tech folks, startups and others, Zuckerberg said that 2018 has been an "intense year" just four months in. Attendees grab their seats at the Facebook F8 2018 developer conference held at the San Jose McEnery Convention Center on May 1, 2018. Facebook is mulling a plan to sell its upcoming smart speakers internationally before launching them in the U.S., as American users and politicians have increased their focus on Facebook and user privacy, according to two people who have had discussions with the company about the devices. The two devices, which Facebook had intended on announcing at its F8 Developer Conference on Tuesday, are the company's answer to Amazon's Echo and Alphabet's Google Home products. The speakers, one of which will come with a camera and a touch screen, will connect directly to Facebook Messenger to make chatting with friends and family through the service much easier.