What happens to my child's voice recordings in AI apps?
It depends on the app. A child's voice may be processed and deleted, stored as audio or transcripts, or used to improve the product. In the US, a child's voice counts as personal information under COPPA, so apps for under-13s need verifiable parental consent. Check the privacy policy for retention, training use and how to delete data.
When your child talks to an AI app, smart speaker or AI toy, their voice is usually sent to the company's servers, turned into text, and answered. What happens next varies a lot: some services delete the audio quickly, some keep audio or transcripts for months or years, and some use conversations to improve their products. The privacy policy is where you find out which.
Why voice data is sensitive
A recording can reveal far more than the words: a child's age, accent, mood, who else is in the room, and sometimes names and places they mention without thinking. Young children are especially open with voice assistants. The American Academy of Pediatrics notes that little ones often tell smart speakers personal stories and details adults would consider private (HealthyChildren.org).
What the law requires
United States (COPPA). The FTC's COPPA FAQ states that audio files of a child's voice are personal information. Services directed at children under 13, or that know they are collecting from under-13s, must get verifiable parental consent first. There is a narrow exception for audio used only as a replacement for typing, such as a voice search, and deleted immediately afterwards. The FTC's updated COPPA Rule, which companies had to comply with by April 2026, also requires a written data retention policy.
What enforcement looks like. In 2023 the FTC and Department of Justice charged Amazon with keeping children's Alexa voice recordings indefinitely and keeping transcripts even after parents asked for deletion. The proposed settlement included a $25 million civil penalty and required Amazon to change its deletion practices.
United Kingdom. The ICO's Children's code applies to online services likely to be used by children. Its standards include data minimisation, high-privacy default settings, and a specific standard for connected toys and devices.
Questions to ask any app
| Question | A good answer looks like |
|---|---|
| Is the audio stored, or only the text? | Clear statement either way, with time limits |
| How long is it kept? | A specific retention period, not "as long as necessary" |
| Is it used to train AI models? | No, or only with a clear opt-in |
| Do humans review recordings? | Disclosed, with safeguards, or not at all |
| Is it shared or sold? | Never sold; sharing limited to named service providers |
| Can I see and delete it? | Yes, from settings or a simple request |
| Are there ads? | No advertising in a children's product |
If a policy doesn't answer these, that is an answer in itself.
Practical steps
- Review stored recordings on smart speakers and delete what you don't need. Most let you turn on automatic deletion.
- Use children's profiles where they exist, rather than an adult's account.
- Exercise your rights. Under COPPA, parents can review and delete their child's personal information. In the UK, you can make a data request on your child's behalf.
- Teach a privacy rule (see what kids should never tell an AI).
How Askie handles it
Askie provides COPPA-compliant child privacy protection, does not sell children's data to third parties, and has no advertising. Its safety methodology explains its approach to personal information redaction and data retention, and the full detail is in the privacy policy. Our guide to COPPA-compliant AI covers what to look for in more depth.
A safe AI your child can talk to
Askie is a voice-first AI companion built for children, with answers adapted to your child's age and parental controls you set.