"Alexa, are you spying on me?"
Ever since the original Amazon Echo first came out, users have been asking (both us and themselves) this question. It's hard to fault the smart speaker for that because it's built in a way to listen to everything you say. That's simply its job.
But how much does Alexa really listen to? And could it be construed as spying? Let's consider this more closely.
Is Alexa Always Listening?
The Amazon Echo works by continuously listening out for a word that triggers Alexa to begin recording. The default trigger is "Alexa," but there are also other options to choose from. Regardless of which trigger is used, the device only starts recording after it hears one.
Once Alexa hears the "wake word," she'll look for a command to complete. That might include playing music, opening an app, or providing information.
While some may find comfort in the fact that smart speakers never record anything until they hear their wake word, others are concerned about how much data these devices collect in the process.
A study conducted by Northeastern University found that Amazon smart speakers along with other smart speaker brands can be accidentally activated to respond up to 19 times per day to words similar to their wake word.
This means that your Amazon smart speaker is listening to you around the clock. It might only take a moment for something to sound like Alexa, but if she hears enough of these similar words, she's bound to be triggered by accident.
Is Alexa Recording All of Your Conversations?
Even if Alexa doesn't save everything you say, it does collect enough data to understand your voice. Amazon claims that it uses this information to make its devices better and more accurate. While it's true that the more data a device has, the better it gets at understanding your requests, some people just want to be sure they are in control of their own privacy and security.
In 2016, The Information reported that Arkansas police had asked Amazon for data from an Echo device in order to help prosecute a suspect. While it is understandable that police need help in investigating certain cases, it does rather suggest that smart speakers---including Amazon Echo devices--- gather unsettling amounts of data.
In a similar incident from 2018, Kiro 7 (a local TV station from Portland, Oregon) reported that an Amazon Echo device had recorded a couple's conversation and sent it to one of the husband's employees. Amazon has since stated that this was an extremely unusual set of circumstances, and nothing like this should ever happen again.
While these seem like unique occurrences, there are still some concerns about how much data these devices may store without you knowing.
Regardless, there's no denying that smart speakers are revolutionizing the way we interact with technology. Still, only time will tell how much freedom of privacy consumers will have to sacrifice in this new era of dangerous tech trends.
How to Protect Your Privacy Around Alexa
With all of this in mind, it's understandable that some people may want to limit their exposure to smart speakers and other devices that may be listening. Although this technology has evolved at an incredible pace, not everybody is entirely comfortable with how much information their devices are collecting about them.
Luckily, there are several things you can do to stop your smart speakers from listening when they shouldn't be.
1. Stop Alexa Listening Completely
The simplest way to prevent Alexa from recording anything is by pressing the Microphone button located on the top of your Echo device. This stops Alexa from listening out for her wake word.
By pressing the Microphone button, you will still be able to use Alexa's various features. Still, it will not be listening to anything around it until you unmute the device.
2. Delete Your Voice Recordings From Alexa's History
To make Alexa delete your voice recordings, you can use three commands:
- "Alexa, delete what I just said"
- "Alexa, delete everything I said today"
- "Alexa, delete everything I've ever said"
If you want to delete them manually: go to Settings > Alexa Privacy > Review Voice History. Then you will tap All History > Delete All My Recordings.
2 Images3. Choose How Long to Save Recordings For
Alexa keeps a temporary recording of what you say. If you do not want recordings to be stored in the cloud, you can choose to delete them once they are sent to your Alexa application on your smartphone.
You can set this feature up by going to Settings > Alexa Privacy > Manage Your Alexa Data > Choose how long to save voice recordings
You can also choose not to save any voice recordings at all from this menu.
2 Images4. Revoke Permissions From Alexa Skills
Alexa Skills are third-party apps that improve Alexa's capabilities, whether it be interacting with different smart home devices or playing games.
However, after enabling these Alexa Skills, they often require access to personal information such as your address and mobile number in order for them to work properly.
If you change your mind after installing the Skill on your device, then you can remove their permissions easily by going into Settings within the app.
Go to the Alexa Privacy settings page, and select Manage Skill Permissions. From here, you can choose the data type you want to manage access to. Press the drop-down menu to the right of these and then use the toggle to remove the permission.
2 ImagesAlexa's Privacy Habits Matter
While it's hyperbole to claim that Alexa is spying on you, she IS always listening out for her wake word. And it's important to be aware of how much information smart speakers are collecting about you. Whether or not this strikes you as a privacy issue, there are steps you can take to protect your digital identity until the technology becomes more refined.
It's important to remember that these devices are capable of making our lives easier in many ways. Whether you want Alexa to complete a simple task or play the music you love, there's no denying that voice-activated assistants make modern life easier.
