Amazon’s Alexa+ announcement has undoubtedly raised the eyebrows of Echo users. However, it has raised serious privacy concerns, as users will be forced to choose between allowing Amazon to store voice recordings and losing access to key features. This comes after Amazon confirmed that beginning March 28, it will automatically send recordings of all Alexa commands to its cloud servers, even if users have chosen not to share their voice data.
According to the report, the company confirmed the change in an email sent to Echo users with “Do Not Send Voice Recordings” enabled, stating that it is required to support Alexa+ features powered by Amazon’s secure cloud infrastructure. Users who do not allow Amazon to store their voice recordings will lose access to Alexa’s Voice ID.
For the unfamiliar, the feature now allows for personalized services such as calendar reminders, music preferences, and even home commands. Amazon previously stated that disabling voice recording may have an impact on Voice ID, but after March 28, those who opt-out will no longer be able to use the feature.
Regarding privacy concerns, the company stated that all voice recordings will be encrypted in transit and automatically deleted after processing unless users choose to keep them. The company also encourages customers to manage their privacy settings through the Alexa app or online dashboard.
This is not the first time Amazon’s listening has caused controversy. According to reports, the company paid a $25 million civil penalty for storing children’s voice recordings indefinitely in 2023. Another 2019 report claimed that Amazon employees listened to up to 1,000 Alexa audio samples per shift to improve speech recognition, raising serious privacy concerns.
While Alexa+ is currently regarded as a strategic move to revitalize the business, existing users will be able to continue to use the free version. Alexa+ will be available for free to Amazon Prime users, or for $19.99 per month. It is currently available to users in the United States.