Does the Amazon Echo eavesdrop on conversations? Is our chit-chat a privacy disaster in the making? Should we be worried about what Amazon is learning about us in our very homes? Short answer: No. The Amazon Echo does NOT eavesdrop on pillow talk.

The far-field communication technology DOES pick up voice commands and connects to the voice-controlled intelligent personal assistant service called Alexa. The voice requests are processed in the cloud and the results are delivered to the device. And those voice requests are saved.

The Amazon Echo only records and stores the wake word and the voice command that follows. You can see the complete record of the voice requests and delete them if you are overly suspicious.

How to Delete Voice Data on Amazon Echo

Alexa
  1. Launch the companion Alexa app for Android or iOS.
  2. Tap on the Hamburger icon on the top right. Then, tap on Settings and then go down to History.
  3. The History screen lists all your voice interactions in chronological order.
  4. Tap on any recording and listen to the audio. Click on the Delete Voice Recordings button to erase the file.

How to Mass Purge Voice Data on Amazon Echo

Amazon Echo
  1. Launch a browser and go to amazon.com/mycd and sign into your Amazon account. Or, the URL can be country specific -- for instance, amazon.in/mycd.
  2. Go to Your Devices > Echo Dot > three dots menu > Manage voice recordings. A pop-up will give you the chance to clear out the whole stash.

Amazon warns users that deleting the recordings may degrade your experience using the voice features. So, take an individual call when you decide to purge the entire history. You can also ease your concern by pressing the Microphone Off button on the device.

Like any other electronic device, Amazon Echo also has its vulnerabilities. The Echo responds to wake commands and specific skills. It also has a tiny attention span as it waits for your commands. Even then, it is reassuring to know that you can delete whatever you have spoken to it.

Do you wipe the history clean now and then? Do you have any privacy fears about your little virtual companion?