Echo Dot Kids Edition has been on the market for about a year. In March, commonsensemedia.org expressed protective measures parents might consider

In May, several lawmakers appealed to the Federal Trade Commission to delve into whether the Amazon Echo Dot Kids Edition breaches the Children’s Online Privacy Protection Act, enacted in 1998, which is a law dealing with how websites, apps and other online operators collect data and personal information from users younger than 13.

According to nextgov.com May 9, a group of concerned senators conveyed “… that while COPPA requires device operators to give parents access to their kids’ personal information, enabling them to review and delete it, the privacy groups’ review of the Echo Dot for Kids revealed when parents have asked Amazon to delete recordings of their children, Amazon has kept information gleaned from those recordings.”

A pcmag.com-featured video test shows a child asking the home assistance device to remember her name, Social Security number, home address and other details. Attempts to delete the private information via the Activity screen of the Alexa app proved fruitless. To truly delete the information, pcmag.com explained, parents or guardians must contact Amazon customer support.

Also May 9, consumerreports.org shared that in addition to the lawmakers, 19 privacy advocacy organizations also filed complaints with the FTC. Amazon is aware of the problems and is working to fix the “bug,” Consumer Reports shared further.

Echo Dot Kids Edition has been on the market for about a year. In March, commonsensemedia.org expressed protective measures parents might consider, such as:

• Looking at device settings and learning how to initiate correctly all privacy settings.

• Speaking to children about what information is appropriate to “speak” to the device.

• “To be ultra safe (some might think paranoid), you can turn off the device’s microphone at night after the kids go to bed.”

• Reviewing periodically the device’s data, as well as staying abreast of updates and new privacy/safety features relating to the device.