Alexa Terms of Use

Last Updated: 20 September, 2023

This is an agreement between you and Amazon Media EU S.à r.l. (with its affiliates, "Amazon" or "we"). Before using Alexa, please read these Alexa Terms of Use, including the Alexa Communication Schedule, the Amazon.co.uk Conditions of Use, and the other applicable rules, policies, and terms posted on the Amazon.co.uk website, available through your Alexa App, or provided with Alexa Enabled Products (collectively, this "Agreement"). By using Alexa, you agree to the terms of this Agreement on behalf of yourself and all other persons who use Alexa under your account. If you do not accept the terms of this Agreement, then you may not use Alexa.  Please also see our Privacy Notice, our Cookies Notice, and the Interest Based Ads Notice, which are not part of this Agreement.

For the purpose of these Alexa Terms of Use:

"Alexa" means Amazon's Alexa voice services, which includes Third Party Services, digital content, Software, the Alexa App, and support and other related services.

"Alexa App" means the app or website provided by Amazon that provides access to Alexa, Alexa's settings, Alexa-related content, and other information.

"Alexa Enabled Product" means any product or application that enables access to Alexa, such as Amazon Echo devices and the Alexa App.

"Alexa Interactions" means all information related to your use of Alexa and Alexa Enabled Products, including your voice and other inputs, responses provided to you through Alexa, information we receive in connection with Third Party Services and Auxiliary Products you use, and information and content you provide or receive through the Alexa App.

"Auxiliary Product" means any product you can interact with or operate using an Alexa Enabled Product, including Alexa Gadgets and smart home devices such as lights, switches, and thermostats.

"Software" means all software that we make available to you for use in connection with Alexa.

"Third Party Service" means any Alexa skill or other service or application provided by a third party that we make available to you for use on or through Alexa.

1. Alexa

1.1. Alexa. An Alexa Enabled Product and internet connection are required to access and use Alexa. Some Alexa services may not be available in all areas or on all Alexa Enabled Products and may require separate subscriptions.

1.2 Use of the Software. You may use the Software only on or through an Alexa Enabled Product or Auxiliary Product, and you may only make personal and non-commercial use of Alexa. For additional terms that apply to the Software, see the software terms contained in the Amazon.co.uk Conditions of Use and the terms contained in the Legal & Compliance section in the Help menu of your Alexa App.

1.3 Alexa Interactions. Alexa is a continuously improving service that you control with your voice. Alexa streams audio to the cloud when you interact with Alexa. Alexa is always learning and getting smarter; Alexa updates through the cloud automatically to add new features and skills.  To provide the Alexa service, personalize it, and improve our services, Amazon processes and retains your Alexa Interactions, such as your voice inputs, music playlists and your Alexa to-do and shopping lists, in the cloud. Learn more about these voice services including how to delete voice recordings associated with your account.

1.4 Voice Purchasing. Alexa allows voice purchasing of physical and digital products and services, including subscriptions, from Amazon and other sellers using your default Amazon payment and shipping settings (an “Amazon-Processed Purchase”). Amazon-Processed Purchases are subject to the  Amazon.co.uk Conditions of Use and, in the case of a subscription, the terms for the applicable service. You can require a speakable confirmation code, turn off voice purchasing, and review product and order details for Amazon-Processed Purchases anytime in your Alexa App. These settings may not apply to purchases that are not Amazon-Processed Purchases (such as when you provide a credit card directly to the provider of a Third Party Service), and we are not a party to, and have no responsibility for, those purchases. Learn more. Purchases from third-party merchants through Amazon Pay are subject to the Amazon Payments Europe User AgreementAmazon Payments Europe User Agreement (https://pay.amazon.co.uk/help/201751590).

After an order is placed for any Amazon-Processed Purchase that is a non-digital product or service, you have a window of time before your order is final to review and confirm details and make any changes to, or cancel, that order. Any Amazon-Processed Purchase that is a digital product or a subscription to a Third Party Service is final. You cannot cancel your Amazon-Processed Purchase that is a digital product or a subscription to a Third Party Service once delivery has started, including by us making it available to you in the cloud. By placing an order for an Amazon-Processed Purchase that is a digital product or a subscription to a Third Party Service, you acknowledge and agree to this. If you make an Amazon-Processed Purchase of, or start a free trial for, a subscription, your subscription will automatically continue at the applicable subscription price at the end of the free trial period (if any) and each renewal period, and will be charged to a payment method we have on record for you unless you notify us before a charge that you want to cancel or do not want to automatically renew your subscription. For any subscription to an Amazon service, please see the terms of use for that service for applicable cancellation, pricing, and refund terms. For any Amazon-Processed Purchase that is a subscription to a Third Party Service, (i) we or the third party may cancel the subscription at any time, for example, if the applicable service is no longer available, in which case you will receive a prorated refund, and (ii) terms and prices may change from time to time, effective as of the beginning of the next subscription term. You can find more information about Amazon-Processed Purchases in our Alexa and Alexa Device FAQs, including applicable return and refund policies, and how to cancel subscriptions.

1.5 Voice ID. You can also create a voice ID, so Alexa can call you by name and do more to personalise your experience. When you create a voiceID, Alexa uses recordings of your voice to create an acoustic model of your voice characteristics. If Alexa recognises your voice when you are using a third-party skill, that skill may receive a numeric identifier that allows it to distinguish you from other users in your household to better personalise your experience. You can turn off personalisation of third-party skills based on recognised voices, or delete any voice ID you’ve created. Learn more about voice ID.

1.6 Visual ID. You can create a visual ID on compatible Echo Show devices, so Alexa can recognize you, display content specific to you on the device’s home screen, and further personalize your experience. For example, when your face is detected, Alexa may send a signal to the cloud to deliver reminders and news stories that are relevant to you. Visual ID uses images of your face to create a numeric representation of your facial characteristics and updates this representation over time to improve Alexa’s ability to recognize you. When a person is within the field of view of the device’s camera, the device uses on-device processing to attempt to match that person with the visual IDs of enrolled users. You can delete your visual ID at any time. Learn more about visual ID.

2. Third Party Services; Third Party Products.

2.1 Third Party Services. If you use a Third Party Service, we may exchange related information with that service, such as your zip code when you ask for the weather, your custom music stations, information about your Auxiliary Products, or the content of your requests, which may include text transcripts. Your use of any Third Party Service is subject to this Agreement and any third party terms applicable to such Third Party Service. Certain of these third party terms can be found in the Legal Notices section of your Alexa App, or may be linked from your Alexa App, and may be updated from time to time. If you do not accept the third party terms applicable to a Third Party Service, do not use that Third Party Service. When using a Third Party Service, you are responsible for any information you provide to the third party. Amazon has no responsibility or liability for Third Party Services. Publishers of Third Party Services may change or discontinue the functionality or features of their Third Party Service.

2.2 Third Party Products. Alexa Enabled Products and Auxiliary Products include third party products that Amazon does not manufacture or develop. Amazon may automatically update the firmware for certain Auxiliary Products on behalf of the applicable manufacturer. Amazon has no responsibility or liability for such third party products or manufacturer-provided firmware.

3. General

3.1 Functionality; Content. We do not guarantee that Alexa or its functionality or content (including traffic, health, or stock information) is accurate, reliable, always available, or complete. You may encounter content through Alexa that you find offensive, indecent, or objectionable. Amazon has no responsibility or liability for such content.

3.2 Changes to Alexa; Amendments. We may change, suspend, or discontinue Alexa, or any part of it, at any time. We may amend any of this Agreement's terms at our sole discretion by posting the revised terms on the Amazon.co.uk website. You will be subject to the terms of this Agreement in force at the time you use Alexa.

3.3 Geographic Restrictions. You may access and use Alexa only in select locations. We may restrict access to Alexa from other locations.

3.4 Termination. Your rights under this Agreement will automatically terminate without notice if you fail to comply with any of its terms. In case of such termination, Amazon may immediately revoke your access to Alexa without refund of any fees. Amazon's failure to insist upon or enforce your strict compliance with this Agreement will not constitute a waiver of any of its rights.

3.5 Applicable Law. This Agreement is governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg without giving effect to any principles of conflicts of laws, and the application of the United Nations Convention of Contracts for the International Sale of Goods is expressly excluded. If you are a consumer and have your habitual residence in the EU or the UK, you additionally enjoy the protection afforded to you by mandatory provisions of the law of your country of residence. We both agree to submit any dispute or claim arising from or relating to this Agreement, Alexa, the Amazon Alexa App, and the Software, to the non-exclusive jurisdiction of the courts of the District of Luxembourg City, which means that you may bring a claim to enforce your consumer protection rights in connection with this Agreement in Luxembourg or in the country in which you live.

3.6 Exclusion of Liability. Without limiting the exclusion of liability in the Amazon.co.uk Conditions of Use and Sale, our or our licensor’s aggregate liability to you for compensation under this Agreement with respect to any claim (in addition to any rights to obtain a repair, replacement or refund via your statutory rights) will not exceed fifty pounds sterling (£50.00). Nothing in this paragraph affects your statutory rights as a consumer or any liability for death, personal injury, or fraud.

3.7 Contact Information. For help with Alexa or resolving other issues, please contact Customer Service.

Alexa Communication Schedule

Amazon may offer you certain over the top Alexa-related communication services, such as the ability to send and receive messages and calls and connect with other Alexa users and the ability to place outbound calls to most phone numbers in the United Kingdom, United States, Canada and Mexico (collectively, "Alexa Communication"). This schedule is part of the Alexa Terms of Use and you agree to these terms when you register for or use Alexa Communication. Your use of Alexa Communication is also subject to the Usage Guidelines, which are part of this schedule.

1.1 General. Your messages, communications requests (e.g., "Alexa, call Mum"), and related interactions are "Alexa Interactions," as described in the Alexa Terms of Use. Amazon processes and retains your messages in the cloud to provide you with the service, including speech to text transcription and vice versa, to provide additional functionality, and to improve the quality of our services. We also store your messages in the cloud so that they’re available on your Alexa app and select Alexa Enabled Products. You can enable enhanced communication features, such as group calling, in the Alexa app. When enabled, we will de-crypt, process, and then re-encrypt your audio and video calls in the cloud to provide the enhanced features and to improve call quality. We do not retain the audio or any information about the content of your calls. You or other call participants may be able to ask Alexa to help with certain functions during a call, such as "Alexa, volume up" and "Alexa, hang up". Certain Alexa Communication services are provided by our third party service providers, and we may provide them with information, such as telephone numbers, to provide those services. Alexa Communication is only available on select Alexa Enabled Products, and features may vary. Learn more.

1.2 Registration. You provide your phone number when registering for Alexa Communication. Amazon will verify this number by sending you an SMS message (carrier charges may apply). Other users who know your contact details will be able to contact you using Alexa Communication. Your registration name and contact details may be used to identify you to other users, such as when you send a message to a recipient who does not already have your contact details. Your phone number also may be displayed as a caller ID on your outbound calls to phone numbers.

1.3 Contacts. Amazon will periodically import and store your contacts to improve your Alexa Communication experience. Amazon uses information about your contacts and connections, including who you communicate with the most, to provide and improve our services. For example, we use this information to identify most likely call recipients (e.g., when you ask "Alexa, call Bill," Alexa can better identify which Bill you want to contact).

1.4 No Access to Emergency Services. Alexa Communication is not a replacement for traditional two-way telephone or mobile phone service, and does not function as such. You acknowledge that you cannot use Alexa Communication to access emergency services, such as 999 or 112. Alexa Communication is not designed or intended to be used to send or receive emergency communications to any police, fire department, hospital, or any other service that connects a user to a public safety answering point. You should ensure you can contact your relevant emergency services providers through a mobile, landline telephone, or other service.

1.5 Drop In. The optional Drop In feature allows permissioned users to instantly connect to your Alexa Enabled Products for a voice or video chat without you needing to take any action. If you grant Drop In permission to yourself, anyone in your household also receives Drop In permission; and if you grant Drop In permission to a contact, anyone in that contact’s household also receives Drop In permission. Users with Drop In permission may see an indicator to let them know if your device has been recently active. This indicator is based on your Alexa Interactions, and motion sensors on Echo Show. Learn more.

1.6 Limitations. Amazon does not currently charge fees for Alexa Communication. Without prejudice to your rights, we may in the future introduce changes to this policy in accordance with applicable laws. You and/or the recipient of your calls or messages may be required to pay carrier fees for data usage. Amazon has no responsibility for such fees.