Amazon has confirmed that it will be removing a privacy setting from its Echo devices. The “Do Not Send Voice Recordings” feature, which was an opt-in setting that stopped Alexa requests from being sent to the company’s cloud, will no longer be available starting March 28. This feature has been a part of Alexa’s voice service for some time, allowing users to prevent their voice recordings from reaching Amazon’s servers. However, Amazon has decided to replace this option with an existing setting called “Don’t Save Recordings.”
The new “Don’t Save Recordings” setting will still allow Alexa to process voice requests through Amazon’s secure cloud before any recordings are automatically deleted. This means that, while users can still opt to have their voice requests deleted, they will no longer be fully excluded from cloud processing. Despite the change, Amazon reassures users that their privacy remains a priority. The company emphasized that its focus on privacy controls is consistent with improving Alexa’s ability to handle generative AI tasks that rely on cloud computing.
Along with the change to the voice recording settings, users who choose to enable the “Don’t Save Recordings” option will no longer have access to voice ID. The voice ID feature, which allowed Alexa to recognize and personalize responses based on individual voices, will not function with the new privacy settings. This could potentially impact the user experience for those who have relied on Alexa’s personalized services, as it would eliminate voice recognition functionality from the device.
Amazon is assuring customers that while the update to the privacy settings may raise concerns, the move is intended to improve the overall experience with Alexa and Amazon’s broader AI capabilities. The company highlights that the adjustment will make it easier to enhance features and services powered by the cloud, ensuring that user data remains protected. Amazon encourages users to continue using the available privacy settings and assures them that their data will remain secure even with this shift in how voice recordings are handled.
