Amazon Echo changes terms of voice usage: Difference between revisions
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|StartDate=2025-03 | |StartDate=2025-03 | ||
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|Status= | |Status=Active | ||
|ProductLine=Amazon Echo | |ProductLine=Amazon Echo | ||
|Product= | |Product=Amazon Echo | ||
|ArticleType= | |ArticleType=Product | ||
|Type=Privacy | |Type=Privacy | ||
|Description= Amazon removed an opt out option from amazon echo client device series for the amazon alexa, citing the need to collect data for generative AI training | |Description= Amazon removed an opt out option from amazon echo client device series for the amazon alexa, citing the need to collect data for generative AI training | ||
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[[Amazon Echo]] is a series of client devices for the [[Amazon Alexa]] voice control platform for connected smart homes. Echo products have long offered the option to disable cloud voice analysis and perform processing on-device, in addition to a separate option that theoretically prevents the company from saving voice recordings. However, in March of 2025, the company sent an email to users with this option on that disables the first option and only leaves the second, citing the need to train generative AI.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |last=Robledo |first=Anthony |date=2025-03-17 |title=Amazon is removing an Echo privacy setting that keeps Alexa recordings from the company |url=https://www.usatoday.com/story/tech/2025/03/17/amazon-echo-alexa-reporting-privacy/82503576007/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250319001811/https://www.usatoday.com/story/tech/2025/03/17/amazon-echo-alexa-reporting-privacy/82503576007/ |archive-date=2025-03-19 |access-date=2025-03-20 |website=USA Today}}</ref> | [[Amazon Echo]] is a series of client devices for the [[Amazon Alexa]] voice control platform for connected smart homes. Echo products have long offered the option to disable cloud voice analysis and perform processing on-device, in addition to a separate option that theoretically prevents the company from saving voice recordings. However, in March of 2025, the company sent an email to users with this option on that disables the first option and only leaves the second, citing the need to [[Artificial intelligence/training|train generative AI]].<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |last=Robledo |first=Anthony |date=2025-03-17 |title=Amazon is removing an Echo privacy setting that keeps Alexa recordings from the company |url=https://www.usatoday.com/story/tech/2025/03/17/amazon-echo-alexa-reporting-privacy/82503576007/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250319001811/https://www.usatoday.com/story/tech/2025/03/17/amazon-echo-alexa-reporting-privacy/82503576007/ |archive-date=2025-03-19 |access-date=2025-03-20 |website=USA Today}}</ref> | ||
==Background== | ==Background== | ||
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The response to this issue has been varied--some consumers, such as many in one Reddit thread,<ref>{{Cite web |date=2025-03-14 |title=PSA: Amazon Alexa discontinuing Do Not Send Voice Recordings |url=https://old.reddit.com/r/privacy/comments/1jb8qwx/psa_amazon_alexa_discontinuing_do_not_send_voice/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250526183848/https://old.reddit.com/r/privacy/comments/1jb8qwx/psa_amazon_alexa_discontinuing_do_not_send_voice/ |archive-date=2025-05-26 |website=Reddit - r/privacy}}</ref> were quite displeased with the removal of the feature, with comments like "Great opportunity to discontinue Amazon Alexa!" and "We will spy on you and you will like it." However, media outlets have circulated a claim by Amazon that only 0.03% of users used the feature,<ref name=":0" /><ref>{{Cite web |date=2025-03-19 |title=Amazon ends little-used privacy feature that let Echo users opt out of sending recordings to company |url=https://apnews.com/article/amazon-privacy-echo-7fb3c19fa7f664bde5c5be259f8b23ee |url-status=live |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20251119023958/https://apnews.com/article/amazon-privacy-echo-7fb3c19fa7f664bde5c5be259f8b23ee |archive-date=19 Nov 2025|access-date=2025-03-20 |website=The Associated Press}}</ref> so it is likely that this will go broadly unnoticed whether it is positive or negative. | The response to this issue has been varied--some consumers, such as many in one Reddit thread,<ref>{{Cite web |date=2025-03-14 |title=PSA: Amazon Alexa discontinuing Do Not Send Voice Recordings |url=https://old.reddit.com/r/privacy/comments/1jb8qwx/psa_amazon_alexa_discontinuing_do_not_send_voice/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250526183848/https://old.reddit.com/r/privacy/comments/1jb8qwx/psa_amazon_alexa_discontinuing_do_not_send_voice/ |archive-date=2025-05-26 |website=Reddit - r/privacy}}</ref> were quite displeased with the removal of the feature, with comments like "Great opportunity to discontinue Amazon Alexa!" and "We will spy on you and you will like it." However, media outlets have circulated a claim by Amazon that only 0.03% of users used the feature,<ref name=":0" /><ref>{{Cite web |date=2025-03-19 |title=Amazon ends little-used privacy feature that let Echo users opt out of sending recordings to company |url=https://apnews.com/article/amazon-privacy-echo-7fb3c19fa7f664bde5c5be259f8b23ee |url-status=live |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20251119023958/https://apnews.com/article/amazon-privacy-echo-7fb3c19fa7f664bde5c5be259f8b23ee |archive-date=19 Nov 2025|access-date=2025-03-20 |website=The Associated Press}}</ref> so it is likely that this will go broadly unnoticed whether it is positive or negative. | ||
== See also == | |||
* [[Post-purchase EULA modification]] | |||
==References== | ==References== | ||
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[[Category:Amazon Echo]] | [[Category:Amazon Echo]] | ||
[[Category:Amazon]] | [[Category:Amazon]] | ||