Amazon removes device encryption from Fire OS 5 update

As the Apple/FBI encryption story continues to rage on, Amazon finds itself in a spotlight of its own.

The latest updates to Fire OS 5 which is pushing out to previous generation products is greeting Fire device owners with an unwelcome message that device encryption is being removed.

What?

Amazon is but one of the companies that has joined an amicus brief alongside Apple, yet removing encryption from its own devices.

While Apple fights the good fight, @Amazon removes encryption as option from FireOS 5 | @csoghoian @normative @eff pic.twitter.com/nggBdtFG7j

- David Scovetta (@davidscovetta) March 3, 2016

Amazon's latest generation products already shipped with Fire OS 5, which would mean, presumably, they're already in this position. In an attempt to dampen down the uproar, Amazon issued a statement to Engadget

"In the fall when we released Fire OS 5, we removed some enterprise features that we found customers weren't using. All Fire tablets' communication with Amazon's cloud meet our high standards for privacy and security including appropriate use of encryption."

So, you're left with the choice to either accept the update and go down this path, or stay behind on Fire OS 4. It's not a good headline for Amazon, though, regardless of its reasons for doing it.

More: Amazon Support Forums