Amazon Echo users issued warning to keep device out of certain rooms at home

dailyrecord.co.uk:

Smart speakers are a popular tech accessory, with many of them likely gifted over Christmas - but experts have warned they may be recording what we say.One brand that is credited with pioneering the technology is Amazon Alexa.

The nifty device can assist with daily tasks, issue news and weather updates and play music with a simple voice command.While Alexa is a great time saver, tech specialists have given their opinions on the technology and warned users to keep it out of private areas, the Liverpool Echo reports.When the digital assistant gained popularity, Dr Hannah Fry, mathematician and expert on tech company algorithms advised that they should be left downstairs rather than bedrooms or bathrooms as she said the technology can record conversations.The associate professor at University College London explained: "I think there are some spaces in your home, like the bedroom and bathroom, which should remain completely private."This technology is activated by a trigger word but it keeps recording for a short period afterwards.

People accept that, but we should all spend more time thinking about what it means for us."After Dr Fry asked tech firms to provide the data they had collected on her, she said she found recordings of conversations taken from within her home.She added that 'very senior' people in the tech industry won't even take a smartphone into their bedroom and buyers should be very wary of low price technology with microphones linked to the internet.Amazon previously admitted staff listen to customers' conversations through Alexa, stating the recordings were used to help improve the Echo device’s understanding of human speech.A report by news site Bloomberg suggested many users are unaware humans are