Security and privacy advocates, such as Paul Bischoff and Erich Kron, express concerns about the implications of this change on user trust and privacy. They argue that while Amazon claims voice recordings are encrypted and deleted after transcription, the removal of local processing options could exacerbate fears of privacy intrusion. Ray Walsh from Comparitech describes the move as a rollback of privacy safeguards, leaving users without compensation or alternatives. This decision may prompt privacy-conscious individuals to remove such devices from their homes, as they become increasingly wary of data collection practices.
Key takeaways:
- Amazon has disabled two Alexa privacy controls related to the sending and saving of voice recordings, effective March 28.
- The removal of the "Do Not Send Voice Recordings" feature means that Alexa requests will now be processed in the cloud, not locally on the device.
- Amazon claims that less than 0.03% of customers used the opt-out feature, but privacy experts are concerned about the implications for user trust and privacy.
- Security and privacy experts express concerns that the removal of local processing options could erode trust in Amazon, especially among privacy-conscious users.