Starting today, Amazon will force Echo users to send all voice recordings to its cloud for analysis, removing the option to block this data transfer. This change raises concerns over Alexa’s privacy, as Amazon pushes users to choose between using Alexa and protecting their voice data.
Changes to Alexa’s Privacy Settings
Amazon has removed the “Do not send voice recordings” option, meaning voice commands will automatically be sent to Amazon for processing. Additionally, the “Do not save voice recordings” option will now limit Alexa’s features if not enabled.
Why Is Amazon Making This Change?
The move is tied to the upcoming release of Alexa Plus, an AI-driven upgrade designed to improve Alexa’s conversational abilities. Amazon needs more voice data to train Alexa Plus, and it is now requiring users to send recordings to its cloud to fuel the system’s learning process.
Will Human Employees Listen to My Recordings?
Although Amazon claims it doesn’t need human intervention for processing, past incidents showed employees manually listening to recordings for analysis. Amazon hasn’t indicated any changes to this process.
What About Voice Recordings Privacy?
Even if you don’t use Alexa Plus, Amazon will still send your voice recordings to its cloud. You can disable the “save recordings” option, but features like Voice ID and personalized responses won’t work without saving the recordings.
What Do These Alexa Voice-Recording Settings Do?
Amazon is removing two key Alexa privacy settings: “Do not send voice recordings” and “Do not save voice recordings.” These options, previously found deep in the Alexa app and Echo device settings, will no longer be available starting today.
With this change, all recorded voice commands will automatically be sent to Amazon for processing and analysis. Additionally, Amazon is modifying the “Do not save voice recordings” option, limiting certain Alexa features if users choose not to store recordings locally.
Is Amazon’s Cloud Secure?
Amazon encrypts voice data during transmission, but it decrypts the data for analysis once it reaches the cloud. Past breaches related to Amazon Web Services (AWS) have mainly involved third-party vulnerabilities. However, the company has faced privacy issues, including a $25 million penalty in 2023 for violating children’s privacy laws.
Will Other Alexa Privacy Settings Be Affected?
Only the “Do not send voice recordings” and “Do not save voice recordings” options have changed. Other Alexa privacy settings, like Alexa Skill permissions, remain unaffected and should stay intact after the deadline.
What Can Echo Users Do?
Unfortunately, there seems to be no workaround to keep voice recordings private under the new settings. Echo users who wish to continue using Alexa Plus will have to accept Amazon’s data-processing policies.
In summary, Amazon’s new privacy policies force Echo owners to either accept data collection or stop using certain Alexa features, prompting widespread privacy concerns.