An always-listening-capable computing device is disclosed, comprising: a first electronic sensor configured to receive user input, a second electronic sensor configured to receive a signal indicating that a user depressed a physical button, a gate-keeping module implemented by a processor, wherein data from the first electronic sensor passes through the gate-keeping module while a gatekeeping function is disabled, no data from the first electronic sensor passes through the communications module while the gatekeeping function is enabled, all data input to the gate-keeping module is received via an exclusive input lead from the first electronic sensor, and all data output from the gate-keeping module is transmitted via an exclusive output lead to a component other than the first electronic sensor. The device receives the signal indicating that the user has depressed the physical button; and enables or disables a functionality of a second computing device.