Amazon is removing a feature on some Echo smart speakers that allowed users to stop sending voice recordings to the cloud, starting March 28, 2025. The “Do Not Send Voice Recordings” feature will be replaced with an automatic update to the “Don’t save recordings” option.
Users who don’t take action will have their Alexa settings updated to this new option, which sends voice recordings to the cloud and then deletes them once processed. Saved voice recordings will also be deleted, and voice ID functionality will no longer work.
Amazon claims that the removal is part of its focus on protecting customer privacy with tools and controls that “work well with generative AI experiences”. The company notes that customers can still choose not to save their voice recordings.
The feature was only available on a few Echo devices in the US, including the 4th Gen Echo Dot, Echo Show 10, and Echo Show 15. Its removal is likely related to the upcoming launch of Alexa+, an AI-powered update with no release date announced yet.
Source: https://bgr.com/tech/you-can-no-longer-stop-alexa-from-sending-voice-recordings-to-amazon