The company is starting to take privacy concerns seriously
Amazon has unveiled new commands to put people in control of their voice recordings, as the focus on privacy intensifies.
From today, anyone who uses Alexa will be able to say, “Alexa, delete everything I said today” to have recordings deleted.
Essential reading: How to delete your Alexa voice recordings
And in addition, you’ll be able to say “Alexa, delete what I just said” to have the last thing struck from the record – although it’s not fully clear when this will drop.
There’s been story after story regarding Amazon’s approach to privacy recently, and it seems that it’s becoming a higher priority on the company’s agenda.
First, it was alleged that personnel were listening to clips as part of efforts to improve Alexa, before the company was stung by accusations of breaches of children’s privacy laws – something the company refutes.
However, the idea that devices are “eavesdropping” is certainly a barrier to getting people on board with Alexa.
These commands at least make it easier for people to get in control of their data. What’s more, the company has introduced a shutter on the new Echo Show 5’s camera – a first for Amazon, which has until now asked people to trust the privacy button that also mutes the microphones.
Perhaps a shutter is needless, but it’s a symbolic addition that shows that Amazon is starting to take privacy concerns seriously.
