United States: Amazon has agreed to pay a total of $30.8 million to settle allegations of customer privacy violations, including incidents of spying on women in their homes. The settlement includes a payment of $5.8 million following an investigation by the US Federal Trade Commission (FTC) into a former Amazon employee’s actions in 2017.
The employee reportedly used Ring security cameras, owned by Amazon, to spy on female customers in their bedrooms and bathrooms. In a separate settlement, Amazon will pay $25 million over allegations of violating children’s privacy related to Alexa smart speaker recordings.
The FTC’s Bureau of Consumer Protection director, Mr. Samuel Levine, criticized Amazon for prioritizing profits over privacy, stating that Ring’s lack of regard for privacy and security exposed consumers to spying and harassment. Amazon, however, disagreed with the FTC’s characterizations and denied any wrongdoing, but agreed to the settlements to resolve the matter. The company emphasized its commitment to customer privacy and control over their experiences, stating that its devices and services are designed with privacy protection in mind.
Ring, in response to the allegations, claimed to have addressed the issues independently several years ago, prior to the FTC’s inquiry. The proposed orders from the FTC include requirements for Ring to delete unlawfully viewed data and implement enhanced security measures such as multifactor authentication. Amazon would be prohibited from using deleted geolocation and voice information for its products and would establish a privacy program for geolocation usage.
The proposed orders are subject to approval by a federal judge. Once approved, they will mandate the implementation of the specified measures to address the privacy concerns. Amazon hopes that these settlements will allow them to put the matter behind them. The tech giant remains committed to maintaining customer privacy and claims that the resolutions align with its ongoing efforts to prioritize privacy and security.
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