Amazon To Kill This Top Alexa Privacy Feature, Check Date; Netizens Say 'Great Opportunity'

In a move that has sparked reactions and disappointment on social media with regard to user privacy, Amazon is reportedly scrapping a privacy feature that allowed Alexa voice recordings to be stored locally. Instead, the recordings will be transferred to the company's cloud system. Notably, Amazon has apparently informed users of Echo speakers that they will no longer be able to process their Alexa voice recordings locally after March 28.

Notably, users can currently activate Alexa’s “Do Not Send Voice Recordings” feature, which prevents audio requests from being routed to Amazon. But after March 28, this feature will reportedly be scrapped, in a way denying users their privacy choice.

“We are reaching out to let you know that the Alexa feature 'Do Not Send Voice Recordings' that you enabled on your supported Echo device(s) will no longer be available beginning March 28th, 2025,” Amazon said in an email to Echo users who had enabled the feature.

Even though the voice recordings would be processed in the cloud, the email also stated that “they will be deleted” once Alexa had completed processing the requests. A user may lose customised features like voice ID, reminders, calendar events, and music if they return to the old configuration.

“If your voice recordings setting is updated to 'Don't save recordings,' voice ID will not work and you will not be able to create a voice ID for individual users to access more personalised features,” the email added.

The company offered its reasons, saying “As we continue to expand Alexa’s capabilities with generative AI features that rely on the processing power of Amazon’s secure cloud, we have decided to no longer support this feature.”

Social media users and experts were disappointed by the announcement, with many reacting furiously and talking about abandoning the gadget itself because of fears of their privacy being compromised. Amazon has more or less indicated to everyone to either take it, or leave it.

One Reddit user posted: “…seems like now is the best time ever to switch to an alternative,” while one commented “Great opportunity to discontinue Amazon.”

Another commented, “Not a big shock with them about to move to the full AI version of Alexa,” even as yet another said, “They’re going to train their multi-modal LLMs on all your voice data with or without your consent.”

One tech expert commented: “Starting March 28, every word uttered to Alexa will be whisked away to Amazon's cloud, all in the name of their shiny new generative AI, Alexa Plus.” 

Users also pointed out Amazon’s dubious history when it comes to privacy. Notably, Amazon has reportedly violated user privacy many times in the past. By its own admission in 2019, the company was under fire for keeping user conversations with Alexa that were listened to and recorded by employees.

In 2023, the tech behemoth was also slapped a $25 million fine for keeping recordings of kids interacting with Alexa.