{"id":439,"date":"2025-03-17T17:27:59","date_gmt":"2025-03-17T17:27:59","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.techrepublic.com\/?p=4297881"},"modified":"2025-03-17T17:27:59","modified_gmt":"2025-03-17T17:27:59","slug":"amazons-controversial-change-to-echos-privacy-settings-takes-effect-soon","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/blog.tecnoartesanos.com\/index.php\/2025\/03\/17\/amazons-controversial-change-to-echos-privacy-settings-takes-effect-soon\/","title":{"rendered":"Amazon\u2019s Controversial Change to Echo\u2019s Privacy Settings Takes Effect Soon"},"content":{"rendered":"
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Image: stockcatalog\/Flickr\/Creative Commons<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Last week, Amazon sent an email to select Echo users, warning they must now consent to having their Alexa voice recordings sent to the company\u2019s cloud for processing. The email was sent to users with the Do Not Send Voice Recordings setting enabled on their Echo speaker or smart display, which ensured their commands are processed locally on the device; however, starting March 28, this setting will no longer be available, and all recordings will be processed at Amazon data centres, the company confirmed to TechRepublic.<\/p>\n

On the cutoff date, any Echo that still has this setting enabled will automatically switch to Don\u2019t Save Recordings, meaning voice commands will be transmitted to Amazon\u2019s cloud for processing but deleted afterward. Any previously saved voice recordings will also be deleted, and Alexa\u2019s voice ID \u2014 a feature that recognises individual users\u2019 voices to provide personalised responses \u2014 will be disabled.<\/p>\n

In its email, Amazon stated the decision to discontinue the Do Not Send Voice Recordings setting was made to \u201cexpand Alexa\u2019s capabilities with generative AI features that rely on the processing power of Amazon\u2019s secure cloud.\u201d This indicates that Amazon is collecting more voice data to enhance AI training and improve its smart speaker technology.<\/p>\n