Senators ask feds to investigate Amazon Echo Dot Kids Edition for privacy concerns

Adults who use devices like the Amazon Echo (Alexa) or Google Home in our places of residence generally know there's a privacy concern--after all, the devices are listening for our cues.

But now, a group of senators says children don't have the same understanding, and they have greater legal protections. That's why they have asked the Federal Trade Commission to investigate the Amazon Echo Dot Kids Edition to see if it violates the Child Online Privacy Protection Act.

A Texas A&M cybersecurity expert says he shares those concerns.

"The problem comes in that Amazon does record things, and children love to talk, so they're going to tell it stories," said John Romero, assistant director at the Texas A&M Cybersecurity Center. "It's not simply just a request of saying 'Hey, play some music'; it's 'Let me tell you about my day today,' and Amazon is recording this."

For the full conversation from First News at Four, see the video player above.