Skip to main content
  1. Home
  2. Smart Home
  3. News

Amazon might be using Alexa to send you targeted ads

By

It appears that Amazon might be using its speakers to send you targeted ads, according to a recent report published online. To collect the data required to send you personalized ads, Amazon has been sharing transcripts of your conversation with its Alexa smart assistant with third-party businesses.

This new report was produced by researchers from the University of Washington, the University of California – Davis, the University of California – Irvine, and Northeastern University. They published the information online and stated that Amazon and third parties share people’s interactions with over 40 advertisers. That data informs Amazon’s advertising partners about your interests and then influences ads you receive on your Alexa speakers and the web.

Echo Dot on an entryway table.
Image used with permission by copyright holder

Now, targeted ads aren’t technically bad; it’s just how companies come across that data and how transparent they are about what they collect and how they use it. Amazon replied to the reports, saying that, like other companies, Alexa uses voice data to influence ads that it produces across different mediums. It’s in the same vein as if you were to request a song through Alexa or if you purchase an item on Amazon.com. Amazon then uses that information to help curate a more personalized experience for you.

Recommended Videos

Amazon also has a way to turn off targeted ads and specific data collection while you use its products. Amazon customers go to their account, select Advertising Preferences Page, and turn off ads. This setting affects not only the website, but also any Amazon service or product connected to your profile. For more detailed settings, you can check the privacy settings in the Alexa app on your mobile device to manage what voice data is collected while using your products.

An Amazon Echo on a table in between a few books and a coffee mug.
Amazon

Some of the controversies from this reporting come from the mystery of the exact amount of data and information being shared. The researchers have shown that while a significant amount of data is being shared with third party partners and that those partners are paying up to 30x more for voice data, the amount of data being shared is less than what would be from a smart TV or VR headset. Also, only transcripts are shared with partners, not full raw voice clips.

Related

Amazon spokesperson Lauren Raemhild stated that the conclusions coming from the report are inaccurate inferences and speculation. She says that Amazon is “not in the business of selling our customers’ personal information[…].” Raemhild also said there are practices to make sure third party developers explain how much data they collect and for what purposes. The researchers noted that more transparency is needed from Amazon and other companies.

Editors’ Recommendations

Topics
Keyan Riddick
Keyan Riddick
Former Digital Trends Contributor
Keyan Riddick is a freelance writer based in the mountains on North Carolina. When he isn't writing you can find him behind…
Amazon revives the Echo Spot with a new look ahead of Prime Day
The Echo Spot on a nightstand.

Prime Day is just around the corner on July 16-17, but Amazon is kicking off the summer festivities with the launch of the Echo Spot -- an updated version of the old smart alarm clock that's packed with new functionality. Featuring a customizable display, support for Alexa, and a built-in speaker, it's the ideal companion for a nightstand. The smart alarm clock is now available for $80, though Prime members can snag it for just $45 through July 17.

The Echo Spot uses an attractive circular design that's split into two parts. The top half is the customizable display, which supports multiple different colors and lets you quickly set alarms, check the weather, or access its many other apps. The bottom half houses the 1.73-inch speaker, allowing it to play music or respond to your voice commands.

Read more
What to do if your Amazon Alexa app is not working
Alexa app on phone.

If you use Amazon Alexa and its quit responding to you, you may have realized by now that there are a ton of thing that could be causing that problem. One big issue is that the Amazon Alexa app itself has potentially shut down communication with you. Instead of getting overwhelmed by the all of the possibilities, letting your Amazon Echo devices sit there useless, and feeling despair, try an ordered list of potential fixes to get things started.

While there are a lot of different reasons for an Alexa to quite responding, if you go through the following techniques one by one, you'll certainly get a resolution to any problems you might be having with the Alexa app. We'll walk you through everything from updating your Alexa device to contacting Amazon for advanced help if no simple fix will work.
Check for a software update

Read more
How to use all Amazon Alexa alarm clock features
Woman in bed looking toward Echo Dot.

Amazon Alexa is a powerful voice assistant. Along with dishing out commands to your smart home devices or updating you on the latest news, Alexa can function as a pretty robust alarm clock. From setting reminders for later in the day to waking you up with music, there's a lot of functionality packed into the assistant.

Before you can start using all these Alexa alarm clock features, you'll need to know how to activate them. And unless you know exactly how to trigger the actions, it can be tricky to figure out how it all works. Here's a comprehensive look at how to use all Amazon Alexa alarm clock features, including setting a one-time alarm, setting alarms on connected devices, and triggering a recurring alarm that activates with music.
A comprehensive list of all Alexa alarm clock voice commands
We'll examine the best commands in detail later on, but here's a look at every Alexa voice command that triggers an alarm (remember to say "Hey, Alexa" before giving each line):

Read more