Title: A study of security and privacy issues associated with the Amazon Echo

Authors: Catherine Jackson; Angela Orebaugh

Addresses: School of Continuing and Professional Studies, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, VA, USA ' School of Continuing and Professional Studies, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, VA, USA

Abstract: More than 11 million US consumers have an Amazon Echo installed in their homes (Gonzales, 2017). While many consumers view the Amazon Echo as a useful helper in the home to provide information, play music, and order items online, consumers underestimate the device's security and privacy impacts. Additionally, law enforcement officials are beginning to see how consumer internet of things (IoT) devices can provide crucial evidence in cases. This paper presents security and privacy issues with the Amazon Echo and recent cases in which law enforcement officials have employed the Amazon Echo in an investigation. Due to the Amazon Echo's privacy issues and potential uses in court, this paper analyses the fourth amendment in regard to the Amazon Echo. This paper concludes with suggested recommendations that Amazon Echo owners should employ for greater security and privacy.

Keywords: smart speaker; intelligent personal assistant; virtual assistant; Amazon Echo; Alexa; information security; privacy; law enforcement; internet of things; IoT.

DOI: 10.1504/IJITCA.2018.090172

International Journal of Internet of Things and Cyber-Assurance, 2018 Vol.1 No.1, pp.91 - 100

Received: 11 May 2017
Accepted: 25 Sep 2017
Published online: 02 Mar 2018 *