Amazon to Remove Key Alexa Privacy Feature on March 28

Amazon is set to remove the “Do Not Send Voice Recordings” privacy feature from its Alexa-enabled Echo devices on March 28, 2025, forcing all voice requests to be processed in the cloud.

The change, which Amazon justified as necessary for enhancing AI-powered features, has drawn sharp criticism from privacy advocates and Alexa users.

The feature in question allowed select Echo devices — such as Echo (4th Gen), Echo Show 10, and Echo Show 15 — to process voice commands locally without transmitting recordings to Amazon's servers. Users who enabled it effectively prevented their voice interactions from being sent to the cloud, mitigating privacy risks. However, Amazon informed users via email last week that this feature will be discontinued in favor of a new setting called “Don't Save Recordings”. Under this revised policy, voice commands will always be sent to Amazon's cloud for processing, though they will be deleted immediately afterward.

“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,” Amazon wrote in the email.

Amazon's justification and user reactions

Amazon claims that less than 0.03% of Echo owners used the Do Not Send Voice Recordings feature, suggesting that its removal will impact only a small subset of customers. The company also argues that cloud processing is necessary for generative AI-driven enhancements coming to Alexa, which require significant computational resources.

However, many users view the change as a major rollback in privacy protections. Discussions on Reddit and other social media platforms have been flooded with criticism. Some users suggested this was a deliberate move to capture more user data for AI training, while others pointed out that the decision violates the original expectations of Echo device buyers.

The removal of this feature effectively means that all Alexa voice requests will be processed in the cloud, without exception. Previously, users could ensure their commands were handled locally, avoiding the risk of potential data misuse, surveillance concerns, or breaches.

Cloud processing inherently increases the risk of data being accessed, analyzed, or even compromised in security breaches. Amazon has previously faced scrutiny over its handling of voice data, including regulatory fines for improperly collecting and storing user recordings.

What can Alexa users do?

If users wish to maintain the highest level of privacy, their best option would be to disable Alexa altogether and switch to privacy-focused smart assistants. If that's not an option, review Alexa's privacy settings to minimize data collection where possible.

For those still using Echo devices, Amazon recommends switching to the new “Don't Save Recordings” setting before March 28 to ensure that voice requests are deleted immediately after processing. However, users must accept that their voice data will always pass through Amazon's cloud servers moving forward.