Amazon Ends “Do Not Send Voice Recordings” Privacy Feature on Echo/Fire TV

This change means users who previously opted out of sharing voice recordings will now have no choice but to comply – or lose key functionality.

Voice Recordings No Longer Optional

For years, Amazon allowed Echo/Fire TV users to choose whether their Alexa voice commands were stored or processed locally. Now, in an email sent to customers who had previously enabled the “Do Not Send Voice Recordings” setting, Amazon confirmed that all Alexa requests will be processed in the cloud. The reason? The company claims that generative AI-powered features require the extra computing power of its cloud infrastructure.

Amazon justified this decision in its email by stating:

As we continue to expand Alexa’s capabilities with generative AI features that rely on the processing power of Amazon’s secure cloud, we have decided to no longer support this feature.

This change means that anyone who continues using Alexa (including on Firestick/Fire TV devices) will have their commands sent to Amazon’s servers, whether they like it or not.

You can read the complete email below which was spotted by users in popular Reddit thread.

Alexa Voice ID Requires Data Collection

One of Alexa+’s most promoted features is Voice ID, which allows the assistant to recognize different speakers. However, to use this feature, Amazon now requires users to let it save and analyze their voice recordings. If users refuse, their Echo device’s Voice ID will be disabled entirely.

Previously, Amazon had warned that Voice ID might not work if voice recordings weren’t saved, but as of March 28, it simply won’t function unless users agree to Amazon storing their voice data.

Users Must Choose: Privacy or Functionality

Amazon’s latest decision forces Echo and Fire TV owners into a difficult choice:

1. Allow Amazon to record and store voice commands—gaining full Alexa+ functionality but sacrificing privacy.
2. Refuse to save recordings—resulting in a broken Voice ID and a less capable Alexa.

Amazon attempted to ease concerns by stating that voice recordings will be automatically deleted after processing unless users choose otherwise. However, this assurance may not be enough for those who remember Amazon’s past missteps.

Profit Over Privacy

The shift to Alexa+ isn’t just about improving the voice assistant—it’s about making it profitable. Despite its widespread adoption, Alexa has been a financial burden for Amazon. The company has struggled to generate revenue from the assistant, and Alexa+ is a last-ditch effort to turn things around.

While Amazon insists that a free version of Alexa will remain, it’s clear that the company is prioritizing features that push users toward a paid subscription. The privacy rollback seems to be another move in that direction, making Alexa+ more enticing while limiting options for those who prefer to keep their data private.

Final Thoughts

Amazon’s decision to remove privacy controls from Alexa is a major shift that affects millions of Echo and Firestick users. Those who value privacy will need to decide whether keeping an Echo device is worth the risk. With Amazon’s history of mismanaging voice data and using it for unintended purposes, many may see this as the final push to unplug from Alexa for good.

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This article was originally published by CordCutterNews.

What do you think about Amazon’s new privacy policy? Are you willing to share your voice recordings in exchange for new Alexa features, or is this a deal-breaker? Let us know in the comments!