Posted on 06/01/2021 4:54:25 PM PDT by dennisw
Amazon customers have one week to opt out of a plan that would turn every Echo speaker and Ring security camera in the US into a shared wireless network, as part of the company’s plan to fix connection problems for its smart home devices.
The proposal, called Amazon Sidewalk, involves the company’s devices being used as a springboard to build city-wide “mesh networks” that help simplify the process of setting up new devices, keep them online even if they’re out of range of home wifi, and extend the range of tracking devices such as those made by Tile.
But Sidewalk has come under fire for the lack of transparency with which Amazon has rolled out the feature, as well as the limited time available for users to complete the tricky process required to opt out. Other critics have expressed concerns that failing to turn the setting off could leave customers in breach of their internet service provider’s terms and conditions.
“Amazon Sidewalk is a shared network that helps devices work better,” the company said in a Q&A document for users. “In the future, Sidewalk will support a range of experiences from using Sidewalk-enabled devices, such as smart security and lighting and diagnostics for appliances and tools.”
The feature works by creating a low-bandwidth network using smart home devices such as Amazon Echoes and Ring security cameras. At its simplest, it means that a new Echo can set itself up using a neighbour’s wifi, or a security camera can continue to send motion alerts even if its connection to the internet is disrupted, by piggybacking on the connection of another camera across the street. Other devices that don’t need a high-bandwidth connection, such as smart lights, pet locators or smart locks, can use Sidewalk all the time.
But the company’s plans have caused alarm among observers. Ashkan Soltani, a former chief technology officer of the US Federal Trade Commission, told the tech site Ars Technica: “In addition to capturing everyone’s shopping habits (from amazon.com) and their internet activity (as AWS is one of the most dominant web hosting services) … now they are also effectively becoming a global ISP with a flick of a switch, all without even having to lay a single foot of fiber”. The feature may also break the terms and conditions of users’ internet connections, which do not allow such resharing, warned Lydia Leong, an analyst at Gartner.
Users can disable Sidewalk in the settings section of the Alexa or Ring apps, but have until 8 June to do so. After that, if they have taken no action, the network will be turned on and their devices will become “Sidewalk Bridges”.
Amazon is not the first company to look to create such a network. Apple has taken a similar approach with the company’s range of AirTag item trackers, which can connect to the internet through any compatible iPhone they come into contact with, not simply their owner’s. And BT, through a long-term partnership with Fon, ran a service from 2007 until 2020 that allowed broadband customers to share spare bandwidth in a public wifi network.
I got my dad a 2nd gen Echo a few years back and have been trying to opt out on the app but don’t have the option to do so.
I’m seeing various reports that the 2nd gens are included but some say they aren’t while others are saying they had the option to opt out but it disappeared.
These people are deranged. And dangerous.
use the opt-out sledgehammer followed by the opt-out charcoal fire.
Just toss it into the fire pit.
Live rural, live free—it is getting kinda obvious why they tried to herd us into cities.
In these parts if they want a wireless network they are gonna have to enlist moose.
Try the phone app.
This link tells you about it and at the bottom of the page how to disable. I think amazon would be in some deep 💩 if they sold devices that forced people to share internet without telling you. For one, it violates the contract agreement, and perhaps could be considered theft and fraud, a major class action suit with no luck of amazon winning.
If you read about sidewalk, the people who designed it and have made claims about it’s purported purpose are obviously city people. For example, if your power goes out, you could still have services from neighboring wi-fi. If my electricity is out, then the whole damn town is out, and there is no internet.
Bookmark
from your link:
Fortunately, turning Sidewalk off is relatively painless. It involves:
Opening the Alexa app
Opening More and selecting Settings
Selecting Account Settings
Selecting Amazon Sidewalk
Turning Amazon Sidewalk Off
Count me in. I can’t see any possible downside.
(/do I really need to say it?)
I disabled without a problem. It took me all of 10 seconds. My question is how do you know if someone connects? I’m not too concerned because we’re on 1/2 acre lots and more old people that aren’t real tech savvy.
One week, how is this legal? Most people won’t find out about this for six months or longer.
The cable companies have been doing this for years with their hotspots. Your home router is doing double duty as a hotspot.
I was given an Echo for Christmas. 2 years ago. It is still sitting in the box unopened.
Nope. Only guest settings. No sidewalk.
Android app.
Nothing about Sidewalk.
Anyone can download stuff off your home network that is illegal, and then you will be charged.
They could upload it to your network also. In order to get yo uarrested, charged and sent to prison.
It stays on even when you think it is off.
The only option is to unplug it. Stick in water for an hour, smash it and throw it in the garbage.
I’m just glad I don’t have any.
My paranoid dad offered to buy my daughter an Alexa, I said “No way Dad, that’s spyware being allowed in the home.”
He thought me crazy until the TV Media actually backed me.
I guess I really did need to include the “/s”.
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