Amazon to remove privacy feature from Echo
Move comes as Amazon prepares to launch Alexa+, a new subscription-based AI assistant
Amazon is discontinuing a privacy-focused feature that allowed select Echo devices to process voice requests locally, meaning all voice recordings will now be sent to the cloud before being deleted.
The change, which will take effect on 28th March 2025, impacts three Echo models: the Echo Dot (4th Gen), Echo Show 10 and Echo Show 15.
The move was announced in an email sent to customers last week, directly impacting users who had previously opted out of sending voice recordings to Amazon, effectively overriding their privacy preferences.
It comes as Amazon prepares to launch Alexa+, a new subscription-based AI assistant. The decision appears to be aimed at bolstering the functionality of Alexa+, particularly its enhanced voice recognition feature, Alexa Voice ID.
"As we continue to expand Alexa's capabilities with generative AI features that rely on the processing power of Amazon's secure cloud, we have decided to no longer support this feature," Amazon's email stated.
Users who decline to send voice recordings will find their Voice ID feature rendered inoperable, effectively "bricking" this functionality on their existing devices.
The removal of local voice processing has sparked anger among some users, particularly those who use Alexa for simple smart home functions, such as controlling lights or adjusting the thermostat.
Many had hoped Amazon would expand local processing capabilities rather than eliminate them. However, the move highlights Amazon's long-standing reliance on cloud computing for Alexa, reinforcing its cloud-first strategy as AI-driven enhancements take centre stage.
There are also privacy concerns among users, particularly given Amazon's history with Alexa voice recordings.
In 2023, Amazon paid the US Federal Trade Commission (FTC) an amount exceeding $30 million, to settle allegations of privacy violations within its Alexa and Ring divisions.
Additionally, reports have surfaced of Amazon employees listening to thousands of voice samples daily to improve Alexa's speech recognition.
In 2019, Bloomberg reported employees listened to up to 1,000 recordings during nine-hour shifts. Further, Alexa recordings have been used in criminal trials, and Amazon recently settled allegations related to Ring camera video recordings, where the FTC alleged thousands of employees and contractors viewed customer's private spaces.
Amazon maintains that it continues to offer robust privacy settings, including the option to delete voice recordings immediately after processing. The company has also assured users that Alexa voice requests are encrypted in transit to their cloud and that they offer privacy controls through the Alexa Privacy dashboard.
Amazon spokesperson Lauren Raemhild reaffirmed the company's commitment to privacy.
In a statement to The Verge, she said, "The Alexa experience is designed to protect our customers' privacy and keep their data secure, and that's not changing."
"We're focusing on the privacy tools and controls that our customers use most and work well with generative AI experiences that rely on the processing power of Amazon's secure cloud."