Stories with Tag Settings

• The Alexa feature "do not send voice recordings" you enabled no longer available

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  Posted: 2025-03-17 04:41:49

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  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.

  • alexa
  • privacy
  • Voice Recordings
  • Amazon
  • Smart Speaker
  • Data Collection
  • Feature Removal
  • Settings
  • User Data
  • Discontinued Feature

  Summary of Comments ( 425 )
  https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=43385268

  Verbose tl;dr

  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.

• How to turn off Apple Intelligence

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  Posted: 2025-02-01 09:11:37

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  The Asurion article outlines how to manage various Apple "intelligence" features, which personalize and improve user experience but also collect data. It explains how to disable Siri suggestions, location tracking for specific apps or entirely, personalized ads, sharing analytics with Apple, and features like Significant Locations and personalized recommendations in apps like Music and TV. The article emphasizes that disabling these features may impact the functionality of certain apps and services, and offers steps for both iPhone and Mac devices.

  The Asurion article, "How to Turn Off Apple Intelligence," provides a comprehensive guide for users of Apple devices who wish to limit the amount of data Apple collects for the purposes of improving its products and services. The article focuses on several key areas where data collection occurs and details the steps necessary to disable or restrict this collection. It begins by explaining that "Apple Intelligence" is a broad term encompassing various data gathering processes, not a single, monolithic feature that can be toggled on or off. Therefore, managing data sharing requires adjusting several individual settings across different areas of the operating system.

  The article carefully outlines how to manage "Personalized Recommendations," which leverage user data to suggest apps, music, and other content. It explains how to disable these recommendations within the App Store, Apple Music, Apple Books, Apple Podcasts, Apple TV, and for News notifications. The article provides specific instructions for each, including navigating to the relevant menus and toggling the appropriate switches. For instance, within the App Store, users can disable personalized recommendations by tapping on their profile icon, then selecting "Personalized Recommendations" and toggling the switch to the off position.

  Furthermore, the article addresses "Location Services," a feature that allows Apple and third-party apps to access location data. It emphasizes the importance of understanding the various levels of location access, including "Never," "While Using the App," "Always," and "Ask Next Time." The article thoroughly explains how to adjust these settings for individual apps, allowing users to granularly control which apps have access to their location and under what circumstances. The authors also highlight the "System Services" section within Location Services, which allows users to manage location-based system features such as location-based alerts, significant locations, and sharing location with family members.

  The article then delves into "Siri & Dictation," explaining how voice data is used to improve Siri's performance. It guides users through the process of disabling Siri and Dictation entirely, or alternatively, opting out of sharing audio recordings with Apple for review and improvement purposes. The steps involve navigating to the "Siri & Search" section within the device's settings and adjusting the relevant toggles.

  "Usage & Diagnostics," another significant data collection area, is also covered in the article. This feature shares diagnostic and usage data with Apple to help identify and resolve issues. The article explains how to disable the automatic sharing of this data by navigating to the "Privacy & Security" settings, then to "Analytics & Improvements," and disabling "Share [Device] Analytics."

  Finally, the article briefly touches upon "iCloud Analytics," which analyzes iCloud data to improve services like Siri and Photos. The article explains how to disable this feature for specific services, such as Photos, by navigating to the respective app's settings within iCloud.

  In conclusion, the article serves as a detailed manual for users who want to take control of their data privacy on Apple devices. It meticulously outlines the various data collection points, provides step-by-step instructions for disabling or limiting data sharing, and emphasizes the importance of understanding the implications of each setting.

  • Apple
  • iOS
  • iPadOS
  • macOS
  • privacy
  • Data Collection
  • Analytics
  • Advertising
  • tracking
  • Personalization
  • Siri
  • iCloud
  • Settings
  • Intelligence
  • Disable
  • Opt-out
  • User Data
  • Device Settings
  • Tech Tips
  • Tutorial

  Summary of Comments ( 61 )
  https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=42897041

  Verbose tl;dr

  HN commenters largely express skepticism and distrust of Apple's "intelligence" features, viewing them as data collection tools rather than genuinely helpful features. Several comments highlight the difficulty in truly disabling these features, pointing out that Apple often re-enables them with software updates or buries the relevant settings deep within menus. Some users suggest that these "intelligent" features primarily serve to train Apple's machine learning models, with little tangible benefit to the end user. A few comments discuss specific examples of unwanted behavior, like personalized ads appearing based on captured data. Overall, the sentiment is one of caution and a preference for maintaining privacy over utilizing these features.

  The Hacker News post "How to turn off Apple Intelligence" (linking to an Asurion article about disabling personalized advertising and data collection features on Apple devices) generated a moderate number of comments, primarily focused on skepticism towards Asurion's motives and the effectiveness of the suggested "off" switches.

  Several commenters questioned Asurion's interest in users disabling these features, suggesting it might be counterintuitive for a company dealing with device insurance and repairs. One prominent theory was that Asurion benefits from users leaving these features on, as the increased data collection could lead to more targeted advertising, potentially influencing users to upgrade their devices more frequently, thus generating more business for Asurion through insurance policies and repairs. This was not presented as a malicious intent, but rather a consequence of the advertising ecosystem.

  There was also a significant amount of discussion regarding the efficacy of the toggles mentioned in the Asurion article. Some commenters argued that while these settings might offer a semblance of control, Apple likely still collects and utilizes user data in other ways, rendering these toggles less impactful than they appear. The consensus leaned towards the idea that these switches primarily control the personalization aspect of data usage, not the collection itself. A few users even expressed a sense of resignation, suggesting that comprehensive data collection is unavoidable in today's tech landscape, regardless of these individual settings.

  Some commenters shared personal anecdotes of disabling similar features, reporting no noticeable change in the frequency or relevance of targeted advertising. This further fueled the skepticism around the true impact of these toggles.

  Finally, a few comments branched off into related privacy concerns, such as location tracking and the overall data collection practices of large tech companies. However, these discussions remained relatively brief and tied back to the central theme of skepticism towards the effectiveness of Apple's privacy controls as presented by Asurion.