Amazon's routing algorithm forces drivers to cross highways on foot
Amazon's routing algorithm for its Flex app uses 'stop consolidation' to combine deliveries on both sides of the street, requiring drivers to cross busy roads and highways on foot to save time. Drivers in multiple states reported safety risks, including sprinting across four-lane highways. Amazon denied that drivers frequently jaywalk and said it fixes map defects.
- Company involved
- Amazon
- AI system involved
- Flex app
9 source articles · read the reporting →
Amazon expands palm-scanning payments to all Whole Foods stores amid privacy concerns
Amazon is expanding its Amazon One palm-scanning payment system to all Whole Foods stores by the end of 2023. The biometric technology, which creates a unique palm signature from vein patterns, is used for payments and identification. Privacy advocates and lawmakers have raised concerns about surveillance, data sharing, and security risks. Amazon faces a class action lawsuit under New York City's biometric privacy law for allegedly failing to provide adequate notice.
- Company involved
- Amazon
- AI system involved
- Amazon One
9 source articles · read the reporting →
Report finds Amazon uses Alexa voice data to serve targeted ads
A report by researchers alleges that Amazon and third parties use voice data from Alexa-enabled Echo speakers to serve targeted ads, sharing data with up to 41 advertising partners. The report says this is inconsistent with Amazon's privacy policies. Amazon denied the findings, saying it does not share voice recordings with advertising networks and that the research is flawed.
- Company involved
- Amazon
- AI system involved
- Alexa
10 source articles · read the reporting →
Amazon offers commitments to address EU antitrust concerns over seller data and Buy Box bias
The European Commission announced that Amazon has offered commitments to address competition concerns regarding its use of non-public data from independent sellers and alleged bias in its Buy Box and Prime programmes. The Commission preliminarily found that Amazon's automated systems may distort competition by favouring its own retail business and sellers using its logistics. Amazon commits to refrain from using seller data for retail decisions and to ensure equal treatment in Buy Box and Prime. The commitments are subject to a market test before becoming legally binding.
- Company involved
- Amazon
- AI system involved
- Buy Box and Prime algorithms
10 source articles · read the reporting →
Amazon apologises after Alexa plays porn to a toddler who asked for a song
A toddler named Bobby asked an Amazon Echo Dot's Alexa assistant to play the children's song 'Digger, Digger'. Instead, Alexa responded with explicit pornographic audio, prompting the family to switch the device off. Amazon apologised to the family and said the glitch had been fixed, adding that it was working on restrictions to prevent a recurrence.
- Company involved
- Amazon
- AI system involved
- Alexa
10 source articles · read the reporting →
Amazon sued over Alexa recordings of children without consent
Amazon is being sued in two class-action lawsuits in Los Angeles and Seattle over its Alexa smart assistant's recordings of children. The lawsuits allege that Amazon lacks consent to create voiceprints of children, building up detailed profiles without parental permission. Amazon denies the allegations, stating it only stores data with device-owner permission and allows parents to delete recordings.
- Company involved
- Amazon
- AI system involved
- Alexa
8 source articles · read the reporting →
Amazon's recommendation algorithm promotes anti-vaccine misinformation
Amazon's recommendation system is promoting anti-vaccine misinformation, according to a CNN investigation. The article found that searches for vaccine information on Amazon return anti-vaccination books and videos, and that the platform's 'customers also bought' feature recommends such content. Amazon said it trusts customers to make informed decisions and did not say it would change its systems.
- Company involved
- Amazon
10 source articles · read the reporting →
ACLU test finds Rekognition falsely matches 27 New England athletes to mugshots
The ACLU of Massachusetts conducted a test using Amazon's Rekognition facial recognition technology, comparing headshots of 188 New England professional athletes to a database of 20,000 arrest photos. The software falsely matched 27 athletes, including Patriots safety Duron Harmon. The ACLU is calling for a moratorium on government use of face surveillance technology.
- Company involved
- ACLU of Massachusetts
- AI system involved
- Rekognition
8 source articles · read the reporting →
Senator Coons questions Amazon over indefinite storage of Alexa voice transcript texts
Senator Chris Coons sent a letter to Amazon CEO Jeff Bezos requesting information about the company's privacy practices for Alexa devices, following reports that Amazon indefinitely stores text transcripts of user voice recordings without giving users the option to delete them. The letter expresses concern that this practice puts users' privacy at risk and asks Amazon to clarify its data storage and deletion policies.
- Company involved
- Amazon
- AI system involved
- Alexa
10 source articles · read the reporting →
AI Moderation Tools Sexualize Women's Photos, Leading to Shadowbanning
An investigation by The Guardian found that AI content moderation tools used by social media platforms like Instagram and LinkedIn exhibit gender bias, falsely classifying photos of women in everyday situations as sexually explicit. Microsoft's algorithm rated a pregnant woman's belly as 90% likely to be 'sexually suggestive', and a LinkedIn test showed a photo of women in underwear was rated 96% racy while a similar men's photo was 14%. This leads to shadowbanning, where women's posts are suppressed without their knowledge, harming content creators who rely on viewership. Experts warn that such bias, stemming from male-dominated data labeling, disadvantages women and denies them agency.
- Company involved
- Instagram and LinkedIn
3 source articles · read the reporting →
Amazon Alexa throws loud party, leading to police raid and bill for owner
Oliver Haberstroh's Amazon Alexa device started playing music at full volume while he was out of his apartment in Pinneberg, Germany. The noise disturbed neighbours, who called the police after getting no response. Police broke down the door, turned off the music, and left a €500 bill for the lock replacement. Amazon later offered to cover the cost as a goodwill gesture.
- Company involved
- Amazon
- AI system involved
- Amazon Alexa
4 source articles · read the reporting →
Amazon uses algorithms to automatically fire Flex delivery drivers
Amazon's Flex delivery program uses automated algorithms with minimal human intervention to manage drivers, including rating their performance and terminating accounts. Drivers report being fired for reasons such as locked gates, bad weather, or failed selfie verifications, often without clear explanation. The system is opaque, and appeals are frequently unsuccessful, leaving drivers without income. Amazon acknowledges the system but denies unfair treatment.
- Company involved
- Amazon
5 source articles · read the reporting →
AWS averts AI supply chain disaster after malicious code injected into Amazon Q Developer
AWS discovered that a threat actor had inserted malicious code into the open-source repository of its AI coding assistant, Amazon Q Developer, via a misconfigured GitHub token. The malicious code was distributed with the extension but failed to execute due to a syntax error, averting a potentially catastrophic supply chain attack. AWS promptly revoked credentials, removed the code, and released a patched version, while also enhancing security measures for its build service. The incident highlights the risks of AI agents with broad access and the importance of securing development pipelines.
- Company involved
- Amazon Web Services
- AI system involved
- Amazon Q Developer
4 source articles · read the reporting →
Amazon's Choice Algorithm Recommends Defective and Misleading Products
Amazon's 'Amazon's Choice' label, awarded by an algorithm based on reviews, price, and stock, has been found to recommend defective and potentially dangerous products. Examples include an inaccurate infant thermometer, a flask that turned alcohol black, and a vacuum that barely worked. The algorithm also failed to detect review manipulation, such as recycled reviews for unrelated products. Amazon acknowledged the issues and stated it uses human and automated techniques to ensure quality, but the label continues to mislead consumers.
- Company involved
- Amazon
- AI system involved
- Amazon's Choice
1 source article · read the reporting →
Apple, Amazon, Meta, Microsoft, Nvidia, and Samsung face class action suits over AI voice training - cryptobriefing.com
The AI voice models were trained on the plaintiffs' voice recordings without their consent.
- Company involved
- Apple, Amazon, Meta, Microsoft, Nvidia, Samsung, Alphabet, Adobe, ElevenLabs
1 source article · read the reporting →
Residents raise noise concerns over Amazon data centers - Yahoo
The data center's operations caused noise that disturbed nearby residents.
- Company involved
- Amazon
1 source article · read the reporting →
Tech Giants Face Illinois Lawsuits Over Voice Data Used to Train AI - Межа. Новини України.
The companies used individuals' voice recordings without permission to train AI models.
- Company involved
- Apple, Amazon, Meta Platforms, Microsoft, Nvidia, Samsung, Alphabet, Adobe, ElevenLabs
1 source article · read the reporting →
FTC Sues Amazon, Alleging Ad Auction Manipulation and $20 Billion Profit
FTC kiện Amazon, cáo buộc thao túng đấu giá quảng cáo và thu lợi 20 tỉ USD - Một Thế…
The FTC has sued Amazon. It accuses the company of manipulating advertising auctions and reaping $20 billion in profit.
- Company involved
- Amazon
4 source articles · read the reporting →
Amazon Agrees to Settle $20.5M Class Action Over AI Data Center Pollution in Eastern Oregon
Residents of the Lower Umatilla Basin in Morrow and Umatilla counties, Oregon, brought a class action alleging that millions of gallons of wastewater from Amazon's data centres added to nitrate contamination of their groundwater. Amazon agreed to a $20.5 million settlement in March 2026 while denying it contributed to the contamination.
- Company involved
- Amazon
- AI system involved
- Eastern Oregon data centres
1 source article · read the reporting →
St. Louis County Facial Recognition Lawsuit: Gatlin Wrongful Arrest - hoodline.com
The system identified Christopher Gatlin as a suspect in an assault, leading to his arrest and 17-month incarceration.
- Company involved
- St. Louis County and City of St. Louis
- AI system involved
- St. Louis Mugshot Recognition Technology System
1 source article · read the reporting →
