Amazon Echo / Alexa

Why this rating

Amazon's Alexa retained children's voice recordings and transcripts indefinitely by default even after parents requested deletion, resulting in a $25 million FTC/DOJ COPPA settlement — a substantiated and severe children's-privacy violation.

What it is

• Microphone
• Requires a cloud account

Manufacturer

Amazon.com, Inc.

Category

Smart Speaker

Model years

2014-present

Market status

Current

Companion app

Alexa

The evidence 6

Independent research, regulatory action, lawsuits, breaches and journalism about this device — the "what actually happens" axis. Each links to its source.

1. S5FTC/DOJ: Amazon to Pay $25 Million Penalty for Alleged COPPA Violations Involving Alexa
   Regulatory action · Federal Trade Commission / DOJ · 2023-05-31

   FTC and DOJ charged Amazon with violating COPPA by retaining children's Alexa voice recordings indefinitely even after parents asked for deletion, resulting in a $25 million penalty.

   Why it matters here: FTC/DOJ settlement is specifically about Alexa's retention of children's voice recordings.

2. S5FTC Blog: Out of the Mouths of Babes — FTC Says Amazon Kept Kids' Alexa Voice Data Forever
   Regulatory action · Federal Trade Commission · 2023-05-31

   FTC staff blog detailing how Amazon retained children's voice recordings and transcripts collected through Alexa despite deletion requests.

   Why it matters here: FTC staff blog detailing the specific Alexa COPPA violations.

3. S5DOJ: Amazon Agrees to Injunctive Relief and $25 Million Civil Penalty for Alleged Children's Privacy Violations
   Regulatory action · U.S. Department of Justice · 2023-05-31

   DOJ press release confirming Amazon's $25 million penalty and required changes to Alexa's handling of children's voice data.

   Why it matters here: DOJ press release confirming the $25M penalty and required Alexa changes.

4. S5FTC Alexa Case Filing (192-3128)
   Regulatory action · Federal Trade Commission · 2023-05-31

   Official FTC case record for United States v. Amazon.com covering the Alexa children's-privacy violations.

   Why it matters here: Official FTC case filing record.

5. S4NPR: Amazon Alexa, Ring Settlement
   Journalism · NPR · 2023-06-01

   NPR coverage combining the Ring privacy settlement with the concurrent Alexa children's-privacy settlement announced the same week.

   Why it matters here: NPR coverage combining the Alexa COPPA settlement with the concurrent Ring settlement.

6. S2Amazon's Response to FTC Settlement Regarding Alexa
   Journalism · Amazon (About Amazon) · 2023-05-31

   Amazon's own statement responding to and characterizing the FTC/DOJ Alexa children's-privacy settlement.

   Why it matters here: Amazon's own response to the settlement.