Date: April 12, 2019
Contact: mediacenter@freeandfairmarketsinitiative.org
In Case You Missed It!
Alexa Giving Amazon Employees Unlimited Access To Private Conversations, Just Like Ring
Reports reveal that Amazon is transcribing “as many as 100 recordings a day” when she receives no command and is not supposed to be listening.
“According to Amazon’s website, no audio is stored unless Echo detects the wake word or is activated by pressing a button. But sometimes Alexa appears to begin recording without any prompt at all, and the audio files start with a blaring television or unintelligible noise. Whether or not the activation is mistaken, the reviewers are required to transcribe it. One of the people said the auditors each transcribe as many as 100 recordings a day when Alexa receives no wake command or is triggered by accident. (Bloomberg, “Amazon Workers Are Listening to What You Tell Alexa,” Matt Day , Giles Turner , and Natalia Drozdiak, 4.11.19)
To read the full article, click here.
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ABOUT THE FREE & FAIR MARKETS INITIATIVE
The Free & Fair Markets Initiative (FFMI) is a nonprofit watchdog committed to scrutinizing Amazon’s harmful practices and promoting a fair, modern marketplace that works for all Americans. For more information on the Free & Fair Markets Initiative, click here.
