Explainer · file D03 · 60 seconds
01 / 08 · Setup
DELETE MY CHILD'S DATA.
a parent's right under COPPA
02 / 08 · Tension
DELETED ? NO.
Amazon: "we'll keep it to improve Alexa"
03 / 08 · Reveal
COPPA
Children's Online Privacy Protection Act · 1998
04 / 08 · Mechanism
child speaks → recording → even after request: transcript stays
Child < 13
talks to Alexa
Amazon
keeps "forever"
violating COPPA · § 312.3(b)(1)
05 / 08 · Scale
10M ECHO DOT KIDS. MILLIONS OF CHILDREN.
10+ M
Echo Dot Kids
$25 M
FTC penalty
20 yrs
privacy obligations
06 / 08 · Lawsuit
MAY 2023
FTC
formal investigation
DOJ
joint proceeding
internal review
technical documents
"we keep it forever to improve the algorithm" — internal memo
07 / 08 · Penalty
$25 M
FTC · May 2023
+ 20-year privacy obligation. Amazon must delete all historical recordings of children on a parent's request OR when the account is inactive.
08 / 08
COPPA
Children have rights. The platform had to comply 25 years later.
File D03 in Big Tech Files.