On the occasion of Privacy Day, Amazon recalled and debunked the five false myths related to the issues of privacy and security of data and users relating to the use of the Amazon Alexa voice assistant.
1.Alexa doesn’t listen to conversations
Alexa is discreet and participates in the user’s life only when required. By default, devices with Alexa integration are designed to activate only once the chosen wake word is detected (for example, Alexa, Amazon, Computer or Echo), without listening to other conversations. Only when the device detects the word of activation, Alexa listens to user requests. In practice, Echo devices only detect the sound waves of the wake word and ignore everything else.
2.Amazon Alexa and privacy settings
Echo smart speakers come with a button shutdown to mute the microphone. Plus, thanks to the light indicators, you can know when Alexa is listening. If the light ring is blue, the device is activated and able to receive and transmit user requests to the secure Amazon Cloud; if it is red the microphones are deactivated and the audio cannot be detected. Just press the Microphone button again to reactivate them. Additionally, Echo Show devices with cameras have built-in camera off buttons and camera cover.
Privacy and security
It’s possible customize Alexa Privacy Settings also in the Alexa app and online. For example: users can read, listen to and delete their voice recordings, review and manage the history of their smart home devices and see. Or update the Alexa Skills you have given permission to access determined data. Users can also manually enable and disable the Drop In feature, which, like an intercom, makes it easier for family and friends to connect with each other. They can also grant permissions exclusively to specific contacts via the Alexa app.
3.Alexa allows you to cancel what is asked of you
If you don’t want to look for your smartphone or take out your PC, you can access privacy controls and features by asking Alexa directly. To delete voice recordings from the last ten minutes, for example, just say “Alexa, delete what I just said” or “Alexa, delete everything I said” to delete all voice recordings.
If you want it instead to ascertain on what was recorded in the most recent voice request, just say “Alexa, tell me what you heard” and Amazon’s voice assistant will read the question again. And if an answer is unclear or unconvincing, the user can ask “Alexa, why did you do this?” and receive a brief explanation. If you don’t know yours settings, with the simple request “Alexa, what are my privacy settings?” they can be discovered and modified.
4.Alexa is designed to be safe
Hundreds of Amazon employees dedicate themselves every day to designing safe products, taking care of verifying the requirements of device hardware, perform application security reviews. Or conduct security testing and ongoing software audits for Alexa services. Furthermore, all data transmitted in streaming between Alexa-enabled devices and the Cloud are encrypted, and everyone receives regular and automatic security updates with the latest protections against possible threats and vulnerabilities.
5.Alexa uses voice recordings to improve itself
Amazon does not sell data collected through Alexa. Interactions with the voice assistant are used to make it more useful over time, helping it learn about preferences of the user so that interactions are increasingly precise and it is possible to personalize one’s experience as much as possible. Allowing Alexa to learn from interactions helps create patterns that can be identified and consolidated by machine learning systems.
Privacy and security of data and users: Amazon’s commitment
If you want to listen to a song whose title you no longer remember, simply improvise it: “Alexa, play the song that goes: When you’re here with me”. This is just one example of how to train with requests of users is contributing every day to making Alexa increasingly efficient, intelligent and intuitive.