Amazon Forces a Privacy Trade-off for Alexa Users

Amazon will now delete Alexa voice recordings by default, but this disables the Voice ID feature for users who opt out of saving recordings. Voice ID allows for actions like sharing calendar events. This decision sparks debate about the balance between user privacy and convenience. Past controversies include reports of Amazon employees listening to Alexa recordings and viewing Ring camera footage. Amazon claims this move improves speech recognition and emphasizes encryption and security measures. However, analysts suggest Amazon prioritizes profitability through its Alexa+ subscription service over user privacy concerns.