Amazon has removed the "Do Not Send" toggle in Alexa's privacy settings that previously prevented voice recordings from being reviewed by human annotators. While users can still delete their voice history and choose not to participate in the "Help improve Alexa" program, automatic deletion is no longer an option, meaning some voice recordings will be retained for an unspecified period for ongoing model development. Amazon claims this change simplifies privacy settings and reflects the primary way customers manage their data (i.e., through activity deletion).
The author of the Mastodon post expresses their dismay at discovering that the privacy setting within the Amazon Alexa mobile application which explicitly prevented the sending of voice recordings for human review is no longer present. This setting, which they had previously enabled to enhance their privacy while using the Alexa voice assistant, has seemingly been removed in a recent update to the application. The author emphasizes that this specific setting, distinct from other privacy controls related to data collection, provided a clear and unambiguous way to opt out of having their voice recordings accessed by Amazon employees or contractors for analysis and improvement of the Alexa service. The disappearance of this option without notification or explanation raises concerns for the author about Amazon's commitment to user privacy and the potential implications for the ongoing collection and utilization of their voice data. They now feel uncertain about the extent to which their voice interactions with Alexa are being monitored and analyzed by human reviewers, despite having actively sought to prevent this in the past. The author finds this change disconcerting and suggests it reflects a potential shift in Amazon's approach to data handling with regard to the Alexa voice assistant.
Summary of Comments ( 425 )
https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=43385268
Hacker News users reacted with cynicism and resignation to the news that Amazon silently removed the Alexa voice recording privacy option. Many expressed the belief that Amazon never truly honored the setting in the first place, speculating the data was still collected regardless of user preference. Some commenters suggested that this move further erodes trust in Amazon and reinforces the perception that "big tech" companies prioritize data collection over user privacy. Others recommended alternative smart home solutions that respect privacy or simply avoiding such devices altogether. A few wondered about the technical or legal reasons behind the change, with some speculating it might be related to training large language models.
The Hacker News post titled "The Alexa feature 'do not send voice recordings' you enabled no longer available" sparked a discussion with several comments expressing concern and frustration over Amazon's removal of the feature that allowed users to prevent their voice recordings from being used for human review.
Many commenters felt betrayed by Amazon, highlighting the importance of such privacy controls. They expressed disappointment that Amazon seemingly reversed its stance on user privacy without adequate notification or explanation. The feeling of being misled was a recurring theme.
Some users speculated about the reasons behind Amazon's decision. One popular theory was that the data collected through human review was crucial for training Alexa's AI models, and discontinuing it might negatively impact the assistant's performance. Others suggested it could be related to cost-cutting measures, while some more cynical comments hinted at potential ulterior motives related to data collection and monetization.
Several commenters discussed alternative smart speakers and voice assistants, emphasizing privacy-focused options like Mycroft. This indicated a potential shift in user preference towards platforms that prioritize data privacy and transparency.
There was also a discussion on the effectiveness of such privacy controls in the first place. Some users questioned whether disabling human review genuinely prevented Amazon from accessing and utilizing user data. This skepticism reflected a broader distrust of large tech companies and their data practices.
A few commenters shared their personal experiences with Alexa, some recounting instances where they felt their privacy had been compromised. These anecdotes further fueled the conversation about the importance of robust privacy controls and transparency from tech companies.
The overall sentiment in the comments section was negative, with many users expressing disappointment and frustration towards Amazon's decision. The removal of the privacy feature sparked a broader discussion about the balance between technological advancement, user privacy, and the trustworthiness of large tech companies.