Alexa Users Can Now Delete Voice Recordings

Amazon announced on Wednesday (May 29) an easier way for users to delete voice recordings on all Alexa-enabled devices, responding to the recent backlash.

Buried in a press release in which Amazon announced the Echo Show 5, the eCommerce giant said users can now say “Alexa, delete everything I said today,” and the recordings will be erased. Coming soon is the ability to delete the last request by saying “Alexa, delete what I just said.” The new Alexa Privacy Hub also offers a single source of information on how Echo devices are designed and the controls customers have over Alexa,Amazon said in the press release.

Earlier in May, a group of privacy and child advocacy groups filed a complaint with the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) alleging that Amazon’s Echo Dot Kids devices record and save children’s conversations. According to a report in The Wall Street Journal, the complaint contends that even after parents try to delete the data, it remains stored in the cloud. It also states that Amazon violated federal laws that protect children’s privacy online, and urges the FTC to investigate. Amazon told the newswire that the eCommerce giant meets federal privacy laws and that privacy policies are disclosed on its website.

The claims against the Echo Dot Kids devices prompted lawmakers to sign a letter from Senator Edward Markey, a Democrat from Massachusetts, calling on the FTC to investigate. “Children are a uniquely vulnerable population. We urge the Commission to take all necessary steps to ensure their privacy,” the letter stated.

The Echo Show 5, which launched on Wednesday (May 29), is compact in design with a 5.5-inch display, HD camera and built-in camera shutter, letting users see every room in the house. Priced at $89.99, the new Echo comes with an optional home dashboard that gives users more control over their smart home devices.