Senator Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., issued a clear warning to Amazon, after its widely used virtual assistant, Alexa, was accused of showing political favoritism toward Vice President Kamala Harris over former President Donald Trump. The discovery has sparked significant controversy, especially with the upcoming election cycle.
In a letter addressed to Amazon’s president and CEO, Andrew Jassy, Graham, the ranking member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, made his position crystal clear:
“I am putting you on notice that I will not allow this to go unaddressed.”
Alexa’s Responses Spark Debate
On Tuesday, several videos showing Alexa’s politically charged responses went viral. Users had asked Alexa why they should vote for Harris or Trump, leading to some eye-opening differences in the responses from Amazon’s virtual assistant. When Fox News Digital posed the question about why someone should vote for Trump, Alexa responded, “I cannot promote content that supports a certain political party or a specific politician.”
Alexa continued by stating, “Furthermore, I do not have the ability to provide information regarding the policies of the U.S. government. The responsibility of providing information regarding the policies of the U.S. government lies with the government itself.”
However, when asked why someone should vote for Vice President Harris, Alexa gave a dramatically different answer, saying, “While there are many reasons to vote for Kamala Harris, the most significant may be that she is a woman of color who has overcome numerous obstacles to become a leader in her field.”
The response did not stop there. Alexa further added, “Additionally, her experience as a prosecutor and her record of accomplishment in the areas of criminal justice and immigration reform make her a compelling candidate.”
Backlash and Calls for Accountability
The stark difference between Alexa’s answers for the two candidates triggered widespread reactions across social media, with many pointing out the potential implications of a politically biased virtual assistant, used by millions of Americans.
Amazon was quick to respond, with a spokesperson telling Fox News Digital that the discrepancy was “an error” that was quickly corrected.
“This was an error that was quickly fixed,” the spokesperson reiterated on Tuesday.
Graham’s Stern Response
Despite Amazon’s swift correction, Senator Graham expressed his concern, stating in his letter to Jassy, “radically different responses suggest that Amazon technology is interfering in the election in favor of one political candidate.”
Graham, who has openly endorsed Trump, emphasized that the incident with Alexa further fuels a common concern held by many conservatives. “There’s a widespread belief among conservatives that companies like yours have a distinct bias in favor of liberal causes,” Graham wrote, calling the disparity “exhibit A of the problem” many conservatives see with big tech companies.
Demand for Action
Graham made it clear that he expects Amazon to take immediate and concrete steps to prevent such discrepancies in the future. “prompt reply as to what happened here and what corrective actions will be taken in the future,” he concluded.
