[AnotherUnixGeek]

And while that may help digital assistants like Alexa become better and faster, it also helps law enforcement listen in on private conversations.

Not really - it helps law enforcement listen in on explicit commands issue to the Amazon Echo starting with it's key-word ("Alexa"). These are not private conversations - they are commands to the cloud-based intelligence of a service company.

The device is not listening in to everything a user says at home.

[CGASMIA68]

you can take that chance ,not here

[linear]

Agreed. Unless the alleged culprit asked Alexa how to commit murder, there will be nothing for the cops to find.

Unless you start with the word “Alexa,” you are essentially talking to a warm rock.

[sheana]

I was telling Hubby that the other night when we were watching the news about the police wanting it regarding a murder. This thing wouldn’t know anything about the murder unless they used Alexa for something regarding the murder, bought weapons or something. They could just as easily look at cc statements for that.
It always amazes me what ‘news’ people fall for anymore.

[VRWCarea51]

Riiiight, google, yahoo or your Bank would never ever turn over your private personal information to the nanny state.

unless of course they have an opportunity too.

[Lurkinanloomin]

That’s what they tell you.

[RoadGumby]

.....that you know of anyway.

thats their story and they are sticking to it.

[American in Israel]

“The device is not listening in to everything a user says at home.”

Nothing a little background firmware upgrade could not fix. Literally the hardware is listening to everything, once it identifies keywords it starts a subroutine. “Alexia” keys full transmission and vocalize reception routine. Easy to add other keyword routines and/or just lock on transmission.

Like bible, guns or FReeper routines.