Everything You Say To Your Echo Will Be Sent To Amazon Starting On March 28 (arstechnica.com)
- Reference: 0176719803
- News link: https://yro.slashdot.org/story/25/03/14/2113257/everything-you-say-to-your-echo-will-be-sent-to-amazon-starting-on-march-28
- Source link: https://arstechnica.com/gadgets/2025/03/everything-you-say-to-your-echo-will-be-sent-to-amazon-starting-on-march-28/
> In an email sent to customers today, Amazon said that Echo users will no longer be able to set their devices to process Alexa requests locally and, therefore, avoid sending voice recordings to Amazon's cloud. Amazon apparently sent the email to users with "Do Not Send Voice Recordings" enabled on their Echo. Starting on March 28, recordings of everything spoken to the Alexa living in Echo speakers and smart displays will [1]automatically be sent to Amazon and processed in the cloud .
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> Attempting to rationalize the change, Amazon's email said: "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." One of the most marketed features of Alexa+ is its more advanced ability to recognize who is speaking to it, a feature known as Alexa Voice ID. To accommodate this feature, Amazon is eliminating a privacy-focused capability for all Echo users, even those who aren't interested in the subscription-based version of Alexa or want to use Alexa+ but not its ability to recognize different voices.
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> [...] Amazon said in its email today that by default, it will delete recordings of users' Alexa requests after processing. However, anyone with their Echo device set to "Don't save recordings" will see their already-purchased devices' Voice ID feature bricked. Voice ID [2]enables Alexa to do things like share user-specified calendar events, reminders, music, and more. Previously, Amazon has [3]said that "if you choose not to save any voice recordings, Voice ID may not work." As of March 28, broken Voice ID is a guarantee for people who don't let Amazon store their voice recordings.
Amazon's email continues: "Alexa voice requests are always encrypted in transit to Amazon's secure cloud, which was designed with layers of security protections to keep customer information safe. Customers can continue to choose from a robust set of controls by visiting the Alexa Privacy dashboard online or navigating to More - Alexa Privacy in the Alexa app."
Further reading: [4]Google's Gemini AI Can Now See Your Search History
[1] https://arstechnica.com/gadgets/2025/03/everything-you-say-to-your-echo-will-be-sent-to-amazon-starting-on-march-28/
[2] https://www.amazon.com/gp/help/customer/display.html?nodeId=GYCXKY2AB2QWZT2X
[3] https://www.amazon.com/gp/help/customer/display.html?nodeId=201602230
[4] https://tech.slashdot.org/story/25/03/13/1853231/googles-gemini-ai-can-now-see-your-search-history
Feature Bricking? (Score:2)
Did I miss a memo? Since when do we talk about a feature being bricked but not a device?
I don't like it. Take it away.
Understandable, I think. (Score:2)
I think it's somewhat understandable. The processing power of those devices is just inadequate for local only use.
Could they split the functionality between different groups of devices? Sure, but that's more fractured development and support, which translates to higher costs. The decision makes sense even though I totally understand that many people will be pissed off. I would be If I were them.
Having said all that, I never felt that I could trust these devices and always assumed that all audio went to the
Re: (Score:2)
Not really. There are people who were satisfied with what Echo could do without sending anything to Amazon and don'ty want the new features enough to let Big Brother in the house. There is no reason a device that worked like that yesterday shouldn't be able to continue working like that today.
This is just the neighborhood peeper somehow getting the HOA to ban curtains and blinds.
Re: (Score:2)
I already addressed that aspect. It's more trouble and higher cost to have multiple branches, or tiers, of devices and workflows. I totally understand where you're coming from. I've been pissed off by seeming unnecessary removal of features on other devices. But, I understand the reason in this case, even if it is self-serving for them.
can I set it on a forbidden loop (Score:2)
Set up a cheap mp3 player with a set of speeches expounding the virtues of the forbidden subjects of the day. Like luigi mangione and some hope that he moves from health care to retail.
It's like 7up and nuns... (Score:2)
an eco in my house - never had it, never will.
[1]https://www.youtube.com/watch?... [youtube.com]
[1] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9OHGXiFtQCo
Ha ha ha... privacy (Score:2)
As soon as Bezos started meddling with politics I knew any remaining hope of Alexa privacy was out the window. I tossed my Echo a few months ago... glad I did.
Therapy (Score:2)
So if I play an NPR radio station during the AM and a FOX station during the PM to an Echo, what kind of therapy ads would start to show up customized for me on the Washington Post site?
Let me correct this! (Score:3)
Everything "your Echo picks up" Will Be Sent To Amazon Starting On March 28
Alexa go fuck you self! (Score:2)
Alexa go fuck you self!
Bezos Sees All!!!- (Score:2)
Bezos KNOWS All! Bezos knows when you poop!!!