Amazon's Alexa Accused of Political Bias After Praising Harris, Shunning Trump

Joaquin Effertz II
September 5, 2024 02:03am
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Amazon's Alexa has come under fire after being accused of political bias in favor of Vice President Kamala Harris over former President Donald Trump. Senator Lindsey Graham has demanded an explanation from Amazon, warning that he will not allow the matter to go unaddressed.

Amazon's Alexa has been caught in a political firestorm after videos of the virtual assistant praising Vice President Kamala Harris while refusing to speak on why its users should support former President Donald Trump went viral.

Senator Lindsey Graham (R-SC) has taken the lead in expressing outrage, sending a stern warning to Amazon CEO Andrew Jassy that he will hold the company accountable for its technology's apparent bias.

Amazon's Alexa Accused of Political Bias After Praising Harris, Shunning Trump

"This is not something that I will allow to go unaddressed," Graham wrote in a letter to Jassy. "The American people deserve to know why Amazon's technology is interfering in our elections in favor of one political candidate."

When prompted on why users should vote for Harris, Alexa responded with a glowing endorsement, citing her status as a woman of color who has overcome obstacles, her experience as a prosecutor, and her record in criminal justice and immigration reform.

Amazon's Alexa Accused of Political Bias After Praising Harris, Shunning Trump

However, when asked why users should vote for Trump, Alexa remained silent, claiming that it could not promote content that supports a certain political party or specific politician. It also stated that it did not have the ability to provide information on U.S. government policies, leaving the responsibility to the government itself.

The stark contrast in Alexa's responses ignited a firestorm on social media, with conservatives accusing Amazon of harboring a bias against conservative viewpoints.

Amazon's Alexa Accused of Political Bias After Praising Harris, Shunning Trump

Attempting to quell the controversy, Amazon claimed that Alexa's responses were an "error" that was quickly fixed. However, Graham expressed skepticism, stating that the "radically different responses suggest that Amazon technology is interfering in the election in favor of one political candidate."

Graham's sentiments echo the widespread belief among conservatives that tech companies like Amazon favor liberal causes. The "shocking interaction" between Alexa and users, according to the senator, is "exhibit A of the problem" in their eyes.

Amazon's Alexa Accused of Political Bias After Praising Harris, Shunning Trump

Graham has demanded a prompt response from Amazon, seeking an explanation for the incident and reassurance that corrective actions will be taken in the future.

As the 2024 presidential election draws closer, the issue of political bias in technology is likely to remain at the forefront of the public discourse. Amazon's handling of the Alexa controversy will serve as a bellwether for how tech companies navigate the complex landscape of political neutrality.