How do you know?

Amazon says their camera only records you when you ask it to, if you don't trust them, then how do you trust that your cellphone or laptop isn't recording you illicitly?

How do I know my smart phone isn't shooting a video of me when I'm dressing? It isn't pointed at me. It doesn't sit on a stand with a view of the room. Sure the microphone might catch something interesting in the bedroom, but setting up an internet connected camera with a view is very different than than one that is pointed in a safe direction.

Firearms: never point it at something you don't want to destroy. Internet connected cameras: never point them at something you don't want the world to see.

You have my upvote for distilling my ambiguous worries into a catchphrase I can repeat to my friends and family.

I don't bring my phone with me when I'm going to shower or change clothes. If I do, I can place it face down and even place something on top of the rear camera if I'm afraid of capturing something other than my ceiling.

This Amazon device either needs to be left alone to capture/not capture whatever it is going to or it serves no purpose at all. I'm not going to turn it around or cover it every time I enter my bedroom. If I did, then the value proposition falls significantly.

It's not even an issue of trusting Amazon. Or, just trusting their motives. You also have to trust their security on an ongoing basis, as your device could theoretically be compromised at any time.

While this may be true, I'd trust Amazon more than the various Chinese camera makers that offer cloud connected streaming and storage. Heck, I'd trust them more than my own ability to secure a vulnerability-laden home router that AT&T manages and probably never patches.

The point is that one doesn't usually purposefully keep our cameras directly pointed at us when we're changing clothes. Cellphones in particular are usually pointed at the table directly under them. Laptops are often more risky, which is why these exist: https://supporters.eff.org/shop/laptop-camera-cover-set

>>if you don't trust them, then how do you trust that your cellphone or laptop isn't recording you illicitly?

I dont, and I dont trust them, I am one of "those people" that places tape over the lens. I also do not own an echo, nor will I own this or any device like it

I hate that Phone do not have removal batteries because there was a time where I did remove them.

Some may call be paranoid, but only the paranoid are ever truly prepared

The products aren't exactly comparable in terms of utility. I get a whole lot more utility out of a cell phone or laptop then I would out of the amazon look. Even if both have security risks one has substantially greater rewards.

That's true. I was more saying that it's not usually pointed in my direction when I'm changing. I have a cover over my webcam and my phone is usually looking at the ceiling or whatever surface it's on.

Do you even use a phone with a front facing camera while sitting on toilet? I bet those pictures could be embarrassing too.