Amazon Using Alexa Voice Data to Serve Targeted Ads Find Researchers

According to a report published by researchers from the University of Washington, UC Davis, UC Irvine, and Northeastern University, Amazon appears to be violating its privacy policies by using Alexa voice data to serve targeted ads (via The Verge).

Amazon and third parties have been found to be collecting data from user interactions with Alexa through Echo devices and sharing it with as many as 41 advertising partners, says the report. That data is then used to “infer user interests” and “serve targeted ads on-platform (Echo devices) as well as off-platform (web).”

Amazon spokesperson Lauren Raemhild has also confirmed in an emailed statement that the company is indeed using voice data from Alexa interactions to deliver relevant ads on Amazon and its partner websites.

“Similar to what you’d experience if you made a purchase on Amazon.com or requested a song through Amazon Music, if you ask Alexa to order paper towels or to play a song on Amazon Music, the record of that purchase or song play may inform relevant ads shown on Amazon or other sites where Amazon places ads.”

The spokesperson further confirmed that Amazon is using the data to serve targeted ads on its Echo devices. “Customers may receive interest-based ads when they use ad-supported premium content – like music, radio or news streams,” 

Amazon has, however, said that the research is flawed and that the company is not in the business of its customers’ personal information.