Amazon Can’t Force Arbitration in Child Privacy Suit Over Alexa (1)

Amazon.com Inc. can’t force children suing it for allegedly violating state privacy laws related to their use of Alexa to arbitrate the dispute, the Western District of Washington said Oct. 21.

The valid arbitration clause in the agreement signed by their parents isn’t enforceable against the children, the opinion by Judge Michelle L. Peterson said.

Alexa is a voice activated service that allows users to make requests by speaking into a device, such as the Amazon Echo, set up in a home. Whenever a user accesses Alexa, Amazon makes, stores, and analyzes permanent recordings of the conversation.

Amazon has faced ...