The Privacy Concerns of Amazon's new Alexa+: Know the issues and make an informed decision.
- Corey Elinburg
- Mar 23
- 2 min read
Updated: Mar 23
Amazon's Alexa, everyone's favorite "friend in the box," has revolutionized how we interact with technology. It offers hands-free convenience for tasks like playing music, controlling smart home devices, and answering questions.
My favorite is that glorious moment when I say, "Alexa, good morning!" Alexa immediately turns on the right lamps, allowing me to bask in a perfectly lit family room with my morning coffee without ever lifting a finger!
Unfortunately, this convenience comes with significant privacy concerns regarding how Alexa collects, stores, and processes voice data.
The overarching concerns are nothing new, but beginning March 28th, 2025, a new and profound change is coming. In short, opting out of sending recordings to Amazon's cloud will no longer be possible without the loss of consderable functionality..
What's the significant change?
Until now, all Alexa users have had the option of disabling Alexa from uploading all our commands to Amazon's cloud (at least on devices that process commands locally; some devices depend on the cloud). As of Friday, there will no longer be an option to "opt-out."
Here are list of the longstanding concerns with Alexa. These may be amplified now that it is no longer a possibility of disabling the upload of recordings without losing functionality.
1. Always Listening?
Alexa-enabled devices are designed to wake when they hear their activation word (e.g., "Alexa"), but studies suggest they sometimes activate accidentally, recording unintended conversations. These findings raise concerns about how much private information might be inadvertently captured.
For more, you can read the following study for Northeastern University.
My short summary is that this happens often when listening to TV (or even music) or when another person is talking. In some cases, lengthy recordings have been performed without a person's knowledge (perhaps because they were paying attention to the TV and not their smart device).
2. Data Storage and Sharing
When you speak to Alexa, your voice recordings are sent to Amazon's cloud, where they are stored and analyzed to improve responses. While Amazon allows users to delete these recordings, many remain skeptical about how long data is retained and whether it's genuinely erased from all systems. Additionally, reports have surfaced about Amazon employees reviewing Alexa recordings to refine AI capabilities, further fueling privacy fears.
3. Potential for Hacking and Surveillance
As a cloud-based system, Alexa is vulnerable to hacking. If cybercriminals gain access, they could eavesdrop on private conversations or exploit personal data. Government agencies have also been known to request access to voice recordings during investigations, raising concerns about surveillance and data security.
4. Third-Party App Risks
Alexa supports third-party "skills," allowing external developers to create voice-activated applications. However, some of these apps have been found to request more data than necessary, posing risks of data misuse or unauthorized access to personal information.
How to Protect Your Privacy
Regularly review and delete your Alexa voice recordings via the Alexa app.
Disable microphone access when not in use.
Be cautious when enabling third-party skills.
Adjust privacy settings to limit data sharing with Amazon.
While Alexa offers undeniable convenience, you as an individual must consider the potential privacy trade-offs. By taking proactive steps, you can enjoy voice assistants' benefits without compromising your security.
For further reading, here is a great article with more details.
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