Watchdogs Say Kids' Info Collected, Kept Through Echo [POLL]

We live in an age where, it seems, we can't get away from technology, and with that can come the price of a lack of privacy. You search online for something, let's say, a new refrigerator. Suddenly you are facing a bunch of online ads for refrigerators. Your smartphone always seem to know where you are, unless you've disabled all location services. And it's convenient having an Amazon or Google device that plays music, lets you make phone calls or control lights and reminds you of appointments in your calendar. The tradeoff is, that convenient device listens in on your home's conversations.

So it should come as no real surprise that Amazon's Echo Dot Kids Edition is being accused of collecting sensitive information from children.

On the Amazon website, the Echo Dot Kids Edition is described as "a kid-friendly DJ, comedian and storyteller" who will "play music, answer questions, read stories, tell jokes and more — all with younger ears in mind."

It's initially bundled with FreeTime Unlimited for year, giving children access to fun and educational content, ad-free radio stations and playlists, Audible books and "a growing list of premium kids skills."

A complaint from consumer groups led by the Campaign for a Commercial-Free Childhood and the Center for Digital Democracy said that Amazon keeps the data even after parents think they have deleted it.

The groups contend that transcripts of recordings are not deleted even if the voice recording is deleted.

Josh Golin, executive director of the Campaign for a Commercial-Free Childhood, said in a statement that "Amazon markets Echo Dot Kids as a device to educate and entertain kids, but the real purpose is to amass a treasure trove of sensitive data that it refuses to relinquish even when directed to by parents."

A statement from an Amazon spokesperson said, "FreeTime on Alexa and Echo Dot Kids Edition are compliant with the Children's Online Privacy Protection Act," and that more information on Alexa and privacy practices can be found online.

The Children's Online Privacy Protection Act, which became effective in 2000, says its primary goal "is to place parents in control over what information is collected from their young children online" and that it was "designed to protect children under age 13 while accounting for the dynamic nature of the internet."

The act applies to operators of commercial websites and online services, including mobile apps, "directed to children under 13 that collect, use or disclose personal information from children."

Read more about the act here.

Several U.S. senators called on the Federal Trade Commission Thursday to investigate whether Echo Dot Kids Edition is in violation of the children's online privacy act.

In a blog post, Amazon responded by stating the company requires verifiable parental consent in order for the device to be operated and there are different ways for a child's recordings and profile to be deleted, cnn.com said.

Amazon has a FAQ for Alexa and the Alexa device that describes the procedure for reviewing and deleting voice recordings. It says that voice recordings associated with one's account can be reviewed and deleted one by one or all at once.

The FAQ also says that "kid skills," which are for children under age 13, require permission from a parent before a child can use them for the first time and the parent will be sent a confirmation e-mail after permission has been granted.

Now it's your turn. Vote in our unscientific poll and tell us what you think in the comments.