Amazon Settles for $30M Over Ring and Alexa Privacy Violations

Amazon will pay over $30 million in fines to settle alleged privacy violations involving its voice assistant Alexa and doorbell camera Ring, according to federal filings. The Federal Trade Commission claims the tech company violated privacy laws by keeping recordings of children's conversations with Alexa and allowing its employees to monitor customers' Ring camera recordings without their consent. Amazon is accused of violating the Children's Online Privacy Protection Act by holding onto children's voice and geolocation data indefinitely, illegally using it to improve its algorithm, and keeping transcripts of their interactions with Alexa despite parents' requests to delete them. The proposed orders require approval from federal judges.