Versa 2 Alexa privacy?

[SamWyse]

Versa 2 looks nice, but I'm not sure about having Alexa listen to everything I say. How do I know Fitbit won't be selling that data?

[WendyB]

Welcome to the forums!

You have the option of not turning it on. so it should not be an issue.

Hope to see you around!

[AlessFitbit · Accepted solution]

Welcome to the Fitbit Community! @SamWyse 

That's a great question. 🙂

The mic on Versa 2 is only actively listening when you use a related feature. Otherwise, it is always turned off. Read more here: Is Alexa always listening on my Fitbit watch?

We also do not share any personal information except in the limited circumstances described on this page: Fitbit Privacy Policy.

Let me know if you still have any questions. 

[Tcamuso]

While you assure us that Alexa is not listening unless we direct it to do so, recent exposure of abuses by these listening technologies does not give me comfort.

I will not buy a product that I know has a built-in virtual voyeur.

Please reconsider using these technologies in your products.

[WavyDavey]

If you ask Alexa, "Hey Alexa, are you spying on me", the result is ""I only send audio back to Amazon when you activate me"

[Tcamuso]

If you ask Alexa, "Hey Alexa, are you spying on me", the result is ""I only send audio back to Amazon when you activate me"

And you believe Alexa, because ...

No thanks. Tech giants have proven themselves unreliable when it comes to privacy. There's almost no escape from their prying, without destroying all your devices, but why make it easier for them?

[MattPYRK]

Can Alexa be disabled entirely?  Thanks!

[LZeeW]

Hello @MattPYRK and a warm welcome.  Alexa cannot be active until you take the steps to activate it.  When you go through the set up process, you have to log in with your Amazon account.  Don't log in.  If it is never enabled, then it is disabled.

[MattPYRK]

Great! Thanks!

[SabaiSabai]

To @MattPYRK "Hey, if you're not doing anything wrong, why should you care if we record and store your every utterance for eternity" -- signed, big tech

[user615i]

Question.  If I understand, if you do not sign in with your amazon account then Alexa will not be activated.  If you do not sign in with your amazon account is there any other functionality you lose?

[LZeeW]

@user615i   If you never activate Alexa, the rest of the Versa 2 will work as programmed.  For example, Alexa is not available worldwide, so some users can't activate it at all.  I activated Alexa to try it out.  You need to be near your phone for Alexa to work -- it connects by Bluetooth to your phone.  I found that Alexa was draining my phone battery, so I disconnected it.

[Babayaga2]

How did you disconnect it ? 

I activated it when i received my Versa 2, but also dont like the idea of having Amazon selling my data, how did you go about this? I cant find anything.

Thanks

[LZeeW]

Hello @Babayaga2 and a warm welcome.  I think I tapped my profile picture > Versa 2 > The Alexa icon.  I don't remember the exact wording, but there was a one tap click and disconnect.

[Tcamuso]

Versa 2 would be FAR more useful to me if it vibrated when I get phone calls or text messages on my phone.

Having alexa built-in is creepy. Not only is there a potential for abuse, but who wants to walk about muttering into their wrist?

[walberque]

I would like to remove Alexa entirely from my Versa 2 watch, and assign the left button to music (managing my iPhone’s music, not the Versa app).

Unfortunately, the only two options for the left button are Alexa and Versa pay. I literally will never use either of those functions.

Please stop shilling on my watch and give me the functionality I actually want, instead of what gives Fitbit some kind of kickback. otherwise, I will have to move on to another watch. I can’t believe Fitbit bought Pebble only to give us increasingly less choice....

[carriebeary]

Just because you don't find it useful doesn't mean other people don't. Just don't turn the features on our choose a different Fitbit watch. Alexa is one of the reasons I AM considering the Versa 2. I use Alexa for shopping lists and it would be really nice to add things on the fly.

[walberque]

Great for you. Terrible for people who want a product that doesn’t try to force you to use devices you don’t like. I’d just like to assign any normal phone function to any button. That doesn’t feel like a big ask. 

[carriebeary]

That's the beauty. Don't get a versa 2. Get the regular versa. 

Sent from Yahoo Mail on Android

[ClarDold]

In the Alexa App on your smartphone, you "disable" the fitbit skill.