Thousands of Amazon Employees Listen to Alexa Requests for Improvement Purposes [Updated]

[bjwhite3114]

Saw this the other day and thought, "Yes! Perfect!"
My wife and I have no desire to have any google or amazon device in our house. I feel like we're in the vast minority -- especially among my extended family.

 

[bbednarz]

Yes, not all, if you think you can be identified by your first name maybe you should avoid Amazon.

Recordings with no wake word is another way of saying the wake word was incorrectly identified - a false positive. Correcting this error is the point of having humans check the results.

"According to Bloomberg, recordings sent to employees who work on Alexa don't include a user's full name or address, but an account number, first name, and the device's serial number are associated with the recording."

Well if only the first name was sent.... But it clearly is not. That information is more than enough to track down the specific person the recording came from.

 

[curtvaughan]

So not interested in any of these digital assistant things. My friend has one and the only thing he ever uses it for is playing music. I can play my own music. Don't need a "listening device".

Just notice, though: the device through which your are accessing MacRumors it one of these digital devices; Apple (as well as Google, etc.) tracks your movements via GPS if you have an iPhone (there was a NYT article on this some months back); your browsing habits, including your activities with Apple on the internet, are harvested and tracked; Apple encourages developers to use metrics analytics collected by their App Store to further refine their applications to target their users. Relevant articles:

https://www.usatoday.com/story/tech...er-download-your-privacy-data-year/521786002/

https://developer.apple.com/app-store-connect/analytics/

The only difference in this instance is that Amazon is using recorded voice data rather than more common GSM, browser history, and purchasing habits. The Echo listens whenever it is plugged in - that's the only way it can pick up on key words like "Alexa". By default, the Echo records a window starting a second or so before the "wake" word until a second or so after Alexa answers your query. That is what is being sent to the Amazon cloud. This data can be deleted both on your phone via the Alexa app, and by also going to Amazon's website and logging in. Select "Manage Your Content and Devices" and select "Alexa Privacy". You will be presented a menu for managing your history and settings for all of your "smart home" devices, including Alexa and the Echo. If you find the web page you can delete the data they have on you. The issue I find a bit sneaky is that all of this stuff gets recorded on your smart device phone app, the smart home device itself, as well as to the cloud. By purchasing and activating the device you agree to whatever fine print in the EULA states Amazon's policy on this. You then have to go through all the steps above to undo all of it. Incidentally, voice recognition is good enough that both recorded voice as well as text transcription of the recordings are stored. The stuff is uploaded via end-to-end encryption, so that at least prevents snooping via "man in the middle" tampering.

It might be worth taking the time to actually read Apple's EULA agreements carefully and discover what they too record and release to advertisers and developers. Apple at least seems to be more reluctant to release data to the NSA and other government snoops.

 

[trellus]

Big flippin' deal.

I *assume* that everything I say can be heard, with all the electronic ears around me, and I assumed (indeed, hoped) that some of my requests were monitored for the purposes of improving the experience. Hell, I literally sometimes specifically construct follow-up requests to demonstrate to potential QA techs how I expect "Alexa" to respond.

I know for a fact that my Echo Dot either mishears the wake word or is just buggy because sometimes "Alexa" will just pipe in seemingly randomly. This happened yesterday, and both my co-worker and I looked at each other and laughed as we mentally "rewound the tape" of our conversations to try to just discern what syllables one of us had uttered to make the Echo Dot think we had given the wake word, and we couldn't determine why she thought we asked her to start reading one of my Kindle books -- which is exactly what she started doing.

 

[pmcmillan]

Surely the default should be to not to have recordings used, with an option to opt-in to improve the service.

For those that do not know where the setting in, it is in Settings, Alexa Account, Alexa Privacy. It needs to be turned off for each user.

 

[Timemaster]

It might be worth taking the time to actually read Apple's EULA agreements carefully and discover what they too record and release to advertisers and developers. Apple at least seems to be more reluctant to release data to the NSA and other government snoops.

Honestly Apple has one of the worse EULA's. It is longer than Macbeth at I think last time I check it was over 40k words . EULA these days have gotten so long that people can not longer read them in any reasonable amount of time. It is high time EULA should be limited to say 1k words ABSOLUTE max but honestly I think 500 should be the max. For frame of references that is 500 words is 1 page 12point font single space.

Apple's current EULA is over 80 pages long. Way to long.

 

[Khedron]

Just notice, though: the device through which your are accessing MacRumors it one of these digital devices; Apple (as well as Google, etc.) tracks your movements via GPS if you have an iPhone (there was a NYT article on this some months back); your browsing habits, including your activities with Apple on the internet, are harvested and tracked; Apple encourages developers to use metrics analytics collected by their App Store to further refine their applications to target their users. Relevant articles:

https://www.usatoday.com/story/tech...er-download-your-privacy-data-year/521786002/

https://developer.apple.com/app-store-connect/analytics/

The only difference in this instance is that Amazon is using recorded voice data rather than more common GSM, browser history, and purchasing habits. The Echo listens whenever it is plugged in - that's the only way it can pick up on key words like "Alexa". By default, the Echo records a window starting a second or so before the "wake" word until a second or so after Alexa answers your query. That is what is being sent to the Amazon cloud. This data can be deleted both on your phone via the Alexa app, and by also going to Amazon's website and logging in. Select "Manage Your Content and Devices" and select "Alexa Privacy". You will be presented a menu for managing your history and settings for all of your "smart home" devices, including Alexa and the Echo. If you find the web page you can delete the data they have on you. The issue I find a bit sneaky is that all of this stuff gets recorded on your smart device phone app, the smart home device itself, as well as to the cloud. By purchasing and activating the device you agree to whatever fine print in the EULA states Amazon's policy on this. You then have to go through all the steps above to undo all of it. Incidentally, voice recognition is good enough that both recorded voice as well as text transcription of the recordings are stored. The stuff is uploaded via end-to-end encryption, so that at least prevents snooping via "man in the middle" tampering.

It might be worth taking the time to actually read Apple's EULA agreements carefully and discover what they too record and release to advertisers and developers. Apple at least seems to be more reluctant to release data to the NSA and other government snoops.

Apple's News terms and conditions say the don't release their tracking information to 3rd parties. Only because they want 3rd parties to pay them a 30% cut to arrange the targeting of adverts on their behalf.

 

[sw1tcher]

Do you not use any Amazon or Google product or service? A lot of people say this, but use Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, Google Search, Amazon, etc. So your data isn't really that private if you use these, even with an iPhone.

No, I do not.

It's possible you are (indirectly?) using an Amazon service and you don't even know it.

https://gizmodo.com/i-tried-to-block-amazon-from-my-life-it-was-impossible-1830565336

 

[Benjamin Frost]

All of these "Home" devices are a potential breach of privacy, every single one of them. They require a constant audio feed in order to recognize keywords for activation and response. What this means is that your device is ALWAYS listening to you while the power is on. What this also means is that the audio feed could potentially be leaked or broadcasted via the Internet to any number of people, with enough programming and reverse engineering.

Now we know that Amazon is listening to what you say... literally.

Come to think of it, the ship's computer on every Federation starship from the TNG era on (and possibly Discovery, for some reason) responds to voice commands. That would have to mean that all rooms in these fictional starships have a 24/7 ear out for what you want to tell them... and what you don't...

You nailed my thoughts exactly.

Any of these listening devices, including Siri, have to be constantly listening, and therefore constantly recording, in order to work. How can anyone be sure that there are no malicious actors at any of the tech companies? In my opinion, if you use any voice assistant on any device, you have to assume that every single word or sound can potentially be recorded and used against you. That's 24 hours a day, not just when you have said, "Hey, Siri"...

I don't use a voice assistant.

 

[gsurf123]

Seriously who cares. If they are taking questions and working to improve the responses then it makes no difference to me. If they are doing more than that then there is a problem. If it is anonymous then who cares.

 

[racerhomie]

I stand with Amazon. They are an honest company run by an honest man. I have nothing to hide. They have no agenda other than to deliver the best speaker with the best voice assistant, which, I might add, is something Apple FAILED to do with the HomePod. And we all know how shady Apple is. Their privacy stance is a farce.

Haha. Found the Amazon employee.

 

[hipnetic]

After reading the article, I went in and turned off the feature (AFAIK) that gives them the OK to do this. The article wasn't a complete shock to me, though, and I'm certainly not outraged. I'm also kind of glad that it's turned on by default, because even though I'm opting-out, I think it will only help to make the product better if there are a lot of people opting-in.

I don't know if Apple does or doesn't do this, but I know that Siri sucks in comparison to Alexa and Google Assistant. I've gotten especially mad yelling at my CarPlay head unit in my car when I've asked Siri to do some pretty simple things (e.g., asking "What's the phone number to such-and-such-a-place" brings up driving directions instead).

 

[alexandr]

interesting. if they bring up the number of employees to the number of users they can just give everyone their own personal human assistant.

 

[ericgtr12]

I just disabled it, I use the Echo for everything and normally don't have many concerns about privacy but this one bothered me a bit because they weren't openly clear about it.

 

[ikramerica]

I have mixed feelings about it. Privacy is important but on the other side Siri works so bad because of so Apple’s privacy policy.

No, Apple employees listen to Siri requests as well. Apple just strips ALL ID from them and changes the register of the voice digitally to make them unidentifiable. Privacy is more important to them. Amazon could give an F about privacy.

But like all voice assistants, when Siri gets confused or gets it wrong, a human has to look into why and try to help the team make Siri better. Apple is just not as good at that, or doesn't devote enough resources.

 

[slide_to_unlock]

"Arguing that you don't care about the right to privacy because you have nothing to hide is no different than saying you don't care about free speech because you have nothing to say." - E Snowden

 

[Dominicanyor]

Not cool at all..

 

[mi7chy]

Seems hypocritical that the average Joes have no problem giving up their private identifying fingerprint and 3D face mapping but have an issue with people knowing their cooking recipe searches. Fear mongering is for the clueless to lap up.

 

[LovingTeddy]

Why ANYONE would put one of these spy devices in their home -- Amazon/Apple/Wink/Samsung/Whatever -- is beyond my ability to comprehend.

We have really given up SO much of our privacy in the past few years, and most of it willingly...

You know, to protect your total privacy, you want to live completely off the grids. Means, no smart phone, no bank account, no credit card, no connected cars etc... Let see how long can you last?
[doublepost=1554999740][/doublepost]

Facebook, Google... now Amazon... possibly soon Microsoft...

I really love Tim Cook's Apple in a lot of ways, and security & privacy is one of them. He really is a rebel and sticking to his guns in a way to benefit the consumer.

No they aren’t. Apple is in business that sucks out your money and information as well. Apple does have employee listen to your Siri queries, they have Maps that tracks your locations.

Do you really think Apple knows nothing about you?
[doublepost=1554999782][/doublepost]

"Arguing that you don't care about the right to privacy because you have nothing to hide is no different than saying you don't care about free speech because you have nothing to say." - E Snowden

There is no total freedom of speech. I really don’t care one way or other.

 

[sdwaltz]

AS LONG AS IT IS COMPLETELY ANONYMOUS, I actually do not have a problem with the practice.

 

[alphaod]

I guess it's a double edge sword.

Either you get a product that has excellent capability such as Amazon Alexa or Google because they use manual labor to improve the audio processing and capabilities… or you get a crap product like Apple Siri because they are focused on privacy and respect of customer's private information that they cannot really improve the product to the level of the two aforementioned companies.

 

[apolloa]

Here you go...

"Google too has employees who are able to access audio snippets from Google Assistant for the purpose of improving the product, but Google, like Apple, removes personally identifiable information and also distorts audio.

Amazon does not appear to be removing all personally identifiable information, and while the Echo is meant to collect audio only when a wake word is spoken, the employees who spoke to Bloomberg said they often hear audio files that appear to have started recording with no wake word at all."

Even Google is removing personal identifiable information.
[doublepost=1554984323][/doublepost]
Actually I did, did you?

"Google too has employees who are able to access audio snippets from Google Assistant for the purpose of improving the product, but Google, like Apple, removes personally identifiable information and also distorts audio.

Amazon does not appear to be removing all personally identifiable information, and while the Echo is meant to collect audio only when a wake word is spoken, the employees who spoke to Bloomberg said they often hear audio files that appear to have started recording with no wake word at all."
[doublepost=1554984394][/doublepost]
"Google too has employees who are able to access audio snippets from Google Assistant for the purpose of improving the product, but Google, like Apple, removes personally identifiable information and also distorts audio.

Amazon does not appear to be removing all personally identifiable information, and while the Echo is meant to collect audio only when a wake word is spoken, the employees who spoke to Bloomberg said they often hear audio files that appear to have started recording with no wake word at all."

Haha, you repeated the keyword several times, appear, that’s not is, it’s not fact, it’s clever wording by a journalist.. only fools with tin foil hats believe Amazon wastes money in secret underground server farms full of huge audio files.. plus as I said, you can turn this feature off on Amazon, you cannot on Apple...

 

[punterab80]

I stand with Amazon. They are an honest company run by an honest man. I have nothing to hide. They have no agenda other than to deliver the best speaker with the best voice assistant, which, I might add, is something Apple FAILED to do with the HomePod. And we all know how shady Apple is. Their privacy stance is a farce.

Really? A lot of people tend to believe the opposite of what you said. (Just reverse the names of the two companies)

 

[AronDraws]

I just looked at mine and most of the "not intended for alexa" recordings were the alexa in one room hearing me yell at alexa in another room for not responding.

 

[bbednarz]

Haha, you repeated the keyword several times, appear, that’s not is, it’s not fact, it’s clever wording by a journalist.. only fools with tin foil hats believe Amazon wastes money in secret underground server farms full of huge audio files.. plus as I said, you can turn this feature off on Amazon, you cannot on Apple...

Oh so this is a feature? Interesting.

Sorry, but an account number and and serial number are enough to track down where the recording came from. No one is saying they are store huge audio files in some underground server farm. The fact that the employees are able to listen to the recordings and match them with who they came from is the problem. I understand the need for them to listen to the recordings. Google and Apple randomizes this data. Clearly Amazon does not as seen below.

"According to Bloomberg, recordings sent to employees who work on Alexa don't include a user's full name or address, but an account number, first name, and the device's serial number are associated with the recording."