Alexa could ruin our lives
So it turns out Amazon is storing audio files of your voice obtained by your Alexa device – but there is a way to download and view everything the company has heard…
I downloaded all the data Amazon has on me, and honestly the creepiest thing about it is that they sent me the *actual audio files* of every time I spoke* to Amazon Alexa
*years ago when I was young and foolish about surveillance pic.twitter.com/XH4Lp4bDob
— Alina Utrata (@AlinaUtrata) January 23, 2022
While companies like Apple have frequently drawn criticism for their data privacy, Amazon takes it to a whole other level.
Ultimately, everything you do and say in the vicinity of your device is recorded and logged by Alexa. So not only does Amazon know your shopping habits and viewing history but they also have data on everything from your dog barking to family squabbles.
Reuters found that Amazon had saved over 90,000 recordings over a three-year period. They included children asking Alexa questions, recordings of the same kids apologising to parents and even extended conversations that Alexa had no business monitoring.
There is a way to view and download the recordings but unfortunately Amazon makes it difficult to delete them. While you can edit your privacy settings to prevent Alexa from picking up as much, the deal is sealed once she has your voice.
Unfortunately, the only sure fire way to delete those files is to delete the account altogether.
How to download your data
First off, click this link or visit Amazon’s Help page – but honestly, it’s quicker just to click the link. If you want to go the long way, go to ‘security and privacy’, then ‘more in security and privacy’, then to ‘privacy’ and then to ‘how do I request my data?’ Finally, click the link labelled ‘request my data’.
You should see a drop-down menu where you can choose the data you want from Amazon. You can of course request all the data or individual items. Amazon will then provide you with all the recordings – and hopefully, they aren’t too embarrassing.
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