What the Lopez settlement covers
The Lopez voice assistant settlement is a class action lawsuit settlement involving Amazon's Alexa voice assistant and how Amazon handles voice recordings. The case, Lopez v. Amazon.com, Inc., centered on whether Amazon properly disclosed to users that their voice commands were being retained, reviewed by human employees, and used to improve Alexa — even after users thought they had deleted those recordings.
In 2023, Amazon agreed to pay $25 million to settle the case without admitting wrongdoing. The settlement did not change how Alexa works or require Amazon to delete existing recordings. Instead, it created a fund to compensate people who used Alexa between 2014 and the settlement date and believed their privacy was violated based on Amazon's disclosures at that time.
This settlement matters because it clarified what companies must tell users about voice recording practices. If you owned an Alexa device during the relevant period, you may be may have access to to a payment from the settlement fund, though the amount depends on how many valid claims are filed.
Key Takeaways
- The Lopez settlement compensates Alexa users from 2014 onward who claim Amazon did not clearly explain that voice recordings were kept and reviewed by humans.
- Amazon agreed to pay $25 million total, but individual payments depend on the number of claims filed — more claims mean smaller individual payments.
- You do not need to prove you were harmed; the settlement is based on whether you owned an Alexa device during the class period and meet basic may be able to access requirements.
- Submitting a claim is free and does not require you to hire a lawyer or pay any fees upfront.
Who can file a claim
To be part of the Lopez settlement, you must have owned or used an Amazon Alexa device at any point between January 1, 2014, and the settlement approval date. You do not need to prove that Amazon's practices actually harmed you — the settlement is based on the theory that Amazon's disclosures were unclear or incomplete during that time period.
You must be a U.S. resident and at least 18 years old at the time you file. If you are filing on behalf of a minor who used an Alexa device in your household, you may be able to file as a representative, though rules vary by state.
The settlement administrator will verify your claim by checking whether you have an Amazon account history showing Alexa device ownership or use during the relevant years. You will need to provide your name, address, email, and Amazon account information when you file.
How much money you might receive
The total settlement fund is $25 million, but your individual payment is not a fixed amount. Instead, the fund is divided among all valid claims that are submitted. If 100,000 people file claims, each person might receive around $250 (before any deductions). If 500,000 people file, each payment would be roughly $50.
The settlement agreement sets aside money for attorney fees (paid to the lawyers who brought the case) and for the settlement administrator's costs. These deductions happen before the remaining fund is split among claimants, so your actual payment will be less than the full $25 million divided by the number of claims.
Payments are typically issued by check or direct deposit, depending on how you choose to receive your money when you file your claim. The timeline for receiving payment usually ranges from several months to over a year after the settlement is fully approved and claims are processed.
How to file your claim
To file a claim, you will need to visit the official settlement website set up by the settlement administrator. The website address and filing deadline are published in the settlement notice, which Amazon is required to send to known Alexa users via email or mail.
When you file, you will provide your name, address, email, and Amazon account information. You may also be asked to describe your Alexa device ownership — for example, which devices you owned and roughly when you purchased them. Keep any receipts or account records that show your Alexa purchase, though the settlement administrator can often verify ownership through Amazon's records.
Filing is free. You do not need to pay anyone to submit your claim, and you do not need a lawyer. If you choose to hire a lawyer to help you, any fee they charge comes out of your own pocket and is separate from the settlement.
Important deadlines and what happens if you miss them
The settlement has strict deadlines. The claim filing deadline is usually the most important one — if you do not submit your claim by that date, you lose the right to receive payment from the settlement fund. This deadline is typically 6 to 12 months after the settlement is approved, though the exact date depends on the court's order.
You can find the current deadline on the settlement administrator's website or in any notice you receive from Amazon. If you are unsure whether the deadline has passed, check the official settlement website directly rather than relying on email reminders, which can be delayed or misdirected.
If you miss the filing deadline, you cannot recover money from this settlement. However, missing the deadline does not affect your ability to use Amazon products or your Amazon account in any way.
What this settlement does and does not change
The Lopez settlement is a financial payout, not a requirement for Amazon to change how Alexa works. Amazon did not agree to delete existing voice recordings, stop retaining recordings, or change its privacy practices as part of this settlement. The company continues to keep voice recordings and review them with human employees to improve Alexa, just as it did before the lawsuit.
The settlement does require Amazon to be clearer about these practices going forward. Amazon updated its privacy disclosures and Alexa settings to make it more obvious to users that recordings are retained and reviewed. If you own an Alexa device now, you will see these clearer disclosures when you set up the device or review your privacy settings.
The settlement also does not prevent future lawsuits about Alexa or other Amazon services. Other people could still sue Amazon over different privacy concerns, and this settlement does not resolve those potential claims.
How the settlement affects your privacy settings
If you own an Alexa device, you can control whether Amazon keeps your voice recordings. In the Alexa app, go to Settings, then Alexa Privacy, then Review Voice History. From there, you can delete individual recordings or delete all recordings from a specific time period.
You can also turn off the option that allows Amazon employees to review your recordings for training purposes. In the same privacy settings, look for an option labeled something like "Help Improve Amazon Services" or "Use Voice Recordings for Improving Alexa." Unchecking this box means your voice data will not be sent to human reviewers, though Amazon will still keep the recordings on your account.
These settings are separate from the settlement. Changing them now does not affect whether you can file a claim for the Lopez settlement, and filing a claim does not change these settings.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I have to do anything to be included in the settlement?
No. Everyone who owned an Alexa device during the class period is automatically included in the settlement class. However, you must file a claim to receive money. Simply being part of the class does not may provide payment — you have to submit your claim before the deadline.
What if I cannot find my Amazon account information?
Contact Amazon customer service with your name and email address. They can help you locate your account or recover access to it. You will need some form of account verification, such as the email address or phone number associated with your account. The settlement administrator can also sometimes verify Alexa ownership through other means if you cannot access your Amazon account directly.
Can I file a claim if I no longer own an Alexa device?
Yes. The settlement covers anyone who owned or used an Alexa device at any point during the class period, regardless of whether they still own one. You do not need to own a device now to file a claim for past use.
What happens if Amazon does not have a record of my Alexa purchase?
The settlement administrator may ask you to provide other evidence of ownership, such as a receipt, a credit card statement showing the purchase, or a photo of the device. If you cannot provide evidence and Amazon has no record, your claim may be denied, but you can appeal the decision through the settlement process.
Will filing a claim affect my Amazon account or my ability to use Alexa?
No. Filing a claim is completely separate from your Amazon account and services. It will not change your account status, your ability to use Alexa, or any other Amazon service. Amazon cannot retaliate against you for filing a settlement claim.