KEY POINTS
  • Amazon Alexa knows what you ask and that information is stored on Amazon's servers.
  • An Amazon Echo only listens when you speak the wake word "Alexa," however.
  • You can see what Alexa has recorded you speaking and delete it following CNBC's guide below.
Amazon CEO Jeff Bezos tours the facility at the grand opening of the Amazon Spheres, in Seattle, Washington on January 29, 2018.

If you own an Amazon Echo — or if you're planning to buy one as a holiday gift — you should know a bit about what sorts of private information it stores about you, and how to delete that info.

After all, the topic of Alexa and whether it's always listening may come up during the holiday. A judge recently ordered Amazon to hand over Alexa voice recordings in a murder case, for example, which may lead some people to believe the Echo can always hear what you're saying.