Amazon confirms it keeps almost every interaction you have with its voice assistant, Alexa.
Every time a user communicates with an Echo device, Amazon says it keeps and transcribes a copy of that interaction. The company says it does this to help Alexa improve.
What most users don't know is that information is deletable though the Alexa app or online. But Sen. Chris Coons (D-Delaware) pushed Amazon to reveal more about what happens to all that data. The company says if you ask it to delete information it will, but that some data like recurring alarms, events or purchases are not deleted. Also third-party skills have access to your voice and may keep copies even if you ask it to be deleted.
Lance Ulanoff from Lifewire.com says users should be aware when speaking to these devices.
“The fact that it keeps all of this stuff, it’s just about the information you have been giving it anyway,” says Ulanoff. “I think what's surprising to people is that it’s all kept.”
Google Home devices are listening as well, and users do have the same ability to delete. News 12 requested a comment from Google on if any of its voice data or transcripts are not able to be deleted but the company has not gotten back yet.