With all the threads concerning “indoor cameras”, an issue came up that surprised me. Specifically the suggestion that an Amazon Echo is a recording device and restricted by THS’s Camera and Recording Policy. IMO, that policy does not cover Amazon Echo devices because an HO cannot use an Echo to eavesdrop or record conversations or any other audio. Yes, if you activate an Echo with the keyword (“Alexa” or ???), what is subsequently said to the Echo is transmitted to the cloud for processing. How else would an Echo work otherwise? But without the wake up word, an Echo records nothing.
If an Echo is objectionable, there are plenty of other problem bits of technology that fit the same category including every Android and iOS smartphone now available, most newer television sets, robot vacuum cleaning devices and more.
I don’t have an Echo or other smart device in my home. However, on sits some homeowners have offered to turn off their voice activated devices. I think as a courtesy if they don’t control everything and the sitter prefers it, they should be turned off, but it’s good to know they aren’t randomly listening.
Not sure about the point of your post be we have sat at several sits with Amazon devices and own them at our own home.
The owner of the device can “drop in” to communicate but the device gives a warning and you get to accept the call like any modern communication device. Yes the device listens once the wake word is used and records the instructions/enquiry and keeps a log of these words but most HOs would rarely investigate these logs and even if they did it would show much except for your music preference, turning on a light, weather etc etc.
In short I see no privacy concerns with these devices and as you said in your OP most phones and tablets do this anyway. If someone was paranoid I’m sure the HO wouldn’t mind if you disconnect them during your stay.
With technology I am very cautious today on sits.
I only have conversations with friends or family through text. If we want to talk on the phone I go to my car. We sometimes talk about politics or use colorful words. I have had people leave reviews that referenced something I said in the house as I talk to the pets. The reviews were positive but too specific on maybe a conversation I had with the dog. An example would be I explained to the dog why he could not have another treat and said to the dog, I don’t make the rules but only follow them. In the review from the PP she said, I did a really good job and didn’t let the dog manipulate me in giving him constant treats. ( how would she know if she didn’t hear that conversation.)
The point was to counter another long thread concerning “cameras and recording devices” that lumped Echos in the recording device category. For the reasons I stated and you clarified, Echos are not recording devices. I understand that Echos unsettle some folks and wanted to clarify that they do NOT enable eavesdropping by HOs and that they do not record anything other than phrases spoken after the wake up word.
She quite possibly is used to coming home to empty treat containers, by other sitters who did let the dog manipulate them. You always have such sage advice, so I just wanted to give a plausible alternative to the disturbing idea of HO listening in. Of course, I may be naive. I never met the owners.
A recording device could have other effects than eavesdropping what you say, for instance using the recording of your voice to various purposes. It doesn’t need to be the host that does it either, it could be unsafe recording/ storing and such. AI really gives so many possibilities for use and misuse. Just heard the other day of a gran having a long conversation with «her grandson» where he asked to borrow money as he had a gambling debt. When «he» said the amount, gran told «him» to ask his mum. When she checked in with her grandson later, he said he never called and wasn’t in debt.
You’re probably right about the treat container. Never even thought about them checking the contents in the treat package. I am older and not tech savvy and a little paranoid about all the constant advances that do so much. Soon robots will be listed here as sitters. Or take care of my robot dog that needs to be charged twice a day. I have already ate at a restaurant that had robot servers bring me my food. Didn’t know protocol so I left him a tip. I did read on the forum once that a couple was sitting and they said that at their house after the PP were long gone they discussed how they didn’t like the decor of the house and said they do not have taste. They said they got a bad review and the PP said on the review, sorry you didn’t like the decor of the house.
Amazon changed its policies in March of 2025. We can’t add links here on the forum but search for articles like “What the Tech: Alexa isn’t just listening, it’s recording you”. With the advent of AI, every major company is scraping as much data as possible from as many sources as possible.
I unplug and cover fully any Amazon (or similar) devices I encounter when I arrive at a sit. And I, too, use my (turned off) vehicle for truly private conversations.
I spent a significant portion of my career researching and evaluating these types of devices in detail. I would never have one in my own home.
Amazon records your intentional interactions with an Echo device. It does not record other audio nor is an Echo capable of being used by an HO to record or listen in on audio near an Echo.
Without a doubt, there are devices that HOs could use to listen in on audio within the home. Echos are not that.
As a friendly PSA, SMS texting (default texting technology) is among the least secure ways to communicate over the internet. Unless you’re using Apple messages or something like Signal or WhatsApp, it’s equivalent to sending a telegram.
I did a sit that while i was watching TV a pop up of a video camera showed up showing the UPS driver delivering a pkg. So im wondering if i can see that is there any way a homeowner can see me through the TV through an app? Its getting sickening that we have to constantly be on the look out for something listening to us or possibly seeing us in a home. It should be in BOLD PRINT, NO CAMERAS OR RECORDING DEVICES IN THE HOME ARE ALLOWED WHILE A PET OR HOME SITTER(S) ARE IN THE HOME !!
@KittySitter We read this article when it first came out and as another poster in this thread pointed out, the article makes it clear that Alexa is only “recording” the commands you tell it, so it can be more responsive with your future commands.
We are sitters and HOs. As HOs, we tell sitters (during the video chat) about our Alexas on the main level – that’s the only place where we use A to control lights and music. The rest of the house (including the sitters’ private areas) are all old-fashioned manual lights. No Alexas in those areas.
And heavens no, our A devices aren’t even set up for us to listen in. Who has the slightest interest in doing such a thing? Frankly, I don’t even know how that would be done but I am told by my better half that there is an announcement on your end if that kind of “listening in” is attempted.
Our sitters have 100% chance to unplug all the three units (which we show them), and we don’t mind in the least.
As THS sitters and when we are guests in AirBnBs, we’ve unplugged and put suspect devices in closed closets. LOL!
An Echo has a “drop-in” feature which allows the HO to listen in…" The Alexa Drop In feature allows users to instantly communicate with other compatible Alexa-enabled devices, acting like an intercom system".
We absolutely think they have to be unplugged at all times during our stay. We have had three instances where (before we knew the full compatibilities of them, turned spinning green. Low and behold, this was a sign that the HO was listening in. Do NOT think you have to just let this technology sly and be okay for a sit. You have EVERY right to unplug them. Tell the HO you don’t feel comfortable and unplug. If they fight you, it’s probably because they know they can’t listen in anymore!
We don’t think this is 100% accurate. We believe that Amazon’s drop in feature works as follows. If the HO is traveling or has access to an Echo where they are…they can ‘drop in’ to their current Echo at home, essentially creating a two-way device so they can listen in.
From Amazon: “Drop In is an optional feature that lets you connect instantly to supported Alexa-enabled devices*, like an intercom”
This has been my experience as well. A friend of mine uses the drop in feature to listen in on family members in other homes quite often (with their permission - they are elderly and it’s a form of keeping them safe). On more than one occasion I’ve been talking to her in her kitchen only to have her Dad’s disembodied voice chime in when I had no idea he was part of the conversation.
I, too, have had the spinning green while on a sit and knew a “drop in” was happening. So unplugging and covering is what I do.
The “drop-in” feature requires that you accept the call in request. This is no different than having an old fashion landline telephone that rings. Yes, if you answer a ringing telephone, the party at the other end can “listen in” to you. Same with cell phones. I think that’s the point of telephones, cellphones and Echo’s call-in feature.
I raised this issue because misunderstandings about how a technology works should not be a basis for any THS policy. Individuals who misunderstand the technology are free to have their own personal policy and disconnect Echos as they wish if they’re willing to forgo certain functionality provided by installed Echos (like good luck dealing with the HDMI quirks of my big screen television setup without the Echo up and running).
I have several friends and family members that work in tech and have heard stories about how devices collect data, that not even the user is aware of, so I typically don’t own any of these devices and during a sit will remove the power source from these devices at the start of the sit and reconnect the power source at the end of the sit.
I fully agree there are unsettling surveillance technologies out there and wariness is prudent. Some (like ACR on televisions) are seriously skeezy. Stories like you’ve heard from friends and family members abound and grow by the day.
My dispute is with the suggestion that Echo devices can be used by home owners to surreptitiously spy on sitters. Echos simply can not be used in that way.
