Anything You Say to Amazon Echo Will Be Sent to Their Cloud, Whether You Agree or Not
In a move that has sparked widespread concern over privacy, Amazon has announced that it will be removing the “Do Not Send Voice Recordings” privacy setting from Echo devices starting March 28. This means that all Alexa requests, regardless of whether the “Don’t Save Recordings” option is enabled or not, will be processed and stored in Amazon’s cloud.
According to Amazon, this change is necessary to improve the performance and functionality of its Echo devices. However, it has left many users feeling concerned about the security and privacy of their voice recordings.
Currently, Echo devices allow users to opt-out of having their voice recordings sent to Amazon’s cloud. However, this change means that even if users have chosen not to save their recordings, they will still be processed and stored in the cloud.
But that’s not all – Amazon has also announced that users will lose access to their Voice ID, a feature that allows users to identify and manage their voice recordings, unless they periodically delete their recordings. This means that users will need to regularly review and delete their recordings to maintain access to their Voice ID.
The news has sparked widespread criticism over privacy concerns, with many users expressing their dismay and disappointment at the move. “It’s outrageous that Amazon is still not taking privacy seriously,” said one user in a comment on Amazon’s website. “I thought I was opting out of having my recordings sent to the cloud, but apparently I was wrong. This is a major breach of trust.”
Another user noted, “I’m not sure why Amazon is doing this. It’s not like they’re using the recordings for anything good. They’re just using them to make more money by selling our data to third-party companies.”
Amazon has defended the change, stating that it is necessary to improve the performance and functionality of its Echo devices. “We are constantly working to improve the performance and functionality of our devices,” said an Amazon spokesperson. “This change is necessary to ensure that our devices continue to work seamlessly and provide the best possible experience for our customers.”
However, many users are skeptical of Amazon’s motives, and are calling for greater transparency and accountability when it comes to the use of their voice recordings. “Amazon needs to be more transparent about what they’re doing with our voice recordings,” said one user. “We need to know what they’re using them for and who they’re sharing them with. This lack of transparency is unacceptable.”
The move has also raised questions about the security of Amazon’s cloud storage. “Amazon’s cloud storage has been breached before, and I have no confidence that they can keep our voice recordings safe,” said another user. “I’m worried that my recordings could be hacked or leaked, and that’s a major concern for me.”
In light of this news, it’s clear that Amazon needs to take a closer look at its privacy policies and provide greater transparency and accountability to its users. As the saying goes, “nothing is private on the internet,” but that doesn’t mean that companies shouldn’t make an effort to protect our privacy.
