Do Alexa and google spy on you?

What is Alexa/Echo?

The Amazon Alexa is actually a state of the art technology. It is developed by the amazon labs126 and it has many features. Some of its salient features include voice interaction, Playing music, alarm and weather information along with many other useful features. 

These smart assistance devices such as Google Home and Amazon Alexa are a glance from the advanced future. These devices are always listening and doing what its user tells it. But we all are aware of the fact that the more modern technology grows the lesser our privacy gets. There are complaints about many products of google and the modern Facebook that it keeps a track of its users. 

I also know that no one wants to get stalked by someone who they even don't know. As it is a bit scary right. Due to such cases, users are scared to use smart assistance devices such as the Amazon Alexa and Google home. They are thinking that their conversations might go somewhere else. And someone, somewhere sitting far far away from them is listening to their every word. 

But this is not true. Today we will talk about how smart assistance devices such as Amazon Alexa and Google deal with user privacy. 

How does it work?

The first thing which you should really know is how these devices work. Well, they are always connected to your home WIFI network. These devices are designed for always listening. But they will only listen to you and perform function after hearing a magical word. Magical words such as ok Alexa are the triggers for such smart assistance devices which makes it start its functions. 

Before hearing a magical word assigned for their functions these devices can not do anything. 

Is Alexa always listening?

The Google Home and other smart assistance devices are always listening to its environments but they only wake up and perform functions after a hearing an assigned word for these devices. Which means they will not be able to hear your every conversation.

Do Alexa and google spy on you?

The word spying is very scary and most of us think that we are at risk of losing u privacy with modern technology. But many modern technology CEOs such as Mr. Mark Zuckerburg of Facebook, Mr. Pichai of Google, etc were recently confronted by the United States senator. They asked them some straight questions. These questions made it clear that the data that they get from users are in safe hands. They will be responsible for the miss-use of the user data. In response to this, both CEOs of these big companies told that the user's data is safeguarded and is stored only by the permission of the users. 

They also said that they store the data for improving user experience. Calling CEOs of such big companies and asking them about their companies privacy policy made it clear that we shouldn't worry about anything. 

An author on CNBC asked the three different kinds of smart assistance devices a question. He asked Google Home, Amazon Alexa and the Siri of Apple the same question. He asked ok "Smart assistance device" are you spying on me? In response to this question first, the Amazon Alexa said that "I only send Audio back after activation. We know that the device is activated after hearing a magical word. The device also gave a link to its privacy notice. This means it is safe to use. And users can Also visit the privacy policy of Amazon Alexa program here.

In response to the Question, Google said that User security is the first priority of Google. It also said that google keeps its user data private and safe and puts its user in control. It also gave a link to its privacy policy page. 

While Apple's Siri just replied with a nope which makes the Amazon and Google smart assistance devices more secure. This is because they clarified their user with a link to its privacy policy page. 

Is any personal information the Alexa hears going somewhere the user doesn't know about?

As I said it earlier the smart assistance devices are made to enhance user’s experience. According to Alexa by Amazon, they said that They have strict technical and operational safeguards. They have zero-tolerance policy fo the abuse of their system. The voice can be heard by the Amazon employees assigned to the Alexa but this is to prevent the abuse of their service. However, the company also stated that the employees don't have any direct access to info that can identify the person or account which means our privacy is always safe when using Such devices.