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To: Snowybear; grey_whiskers

you use Alexa, Echo, or any other Amazon device, you have only 10 days to opt out of an experiment that leaves your personal privacy and security hanging in the balance.

On June 8, the merchant, Web host, and entertainment behemoth will automatically enroll the devices in Amazon Sidewalk. The new wireless mesh service will share a small slice of your Internet bandwidth with nearby neighbors who don’t have connectivity and help you to their bandwidth when you don’t have a connection.

By default, Amazon devices including Alexa, Echo, Ring, security cams, outdoor lights, motion sensors, and Tile trackers will enroll in the system. And since only a tiny fraction of people take the time to change default settings, that means millions of people will be co-opted into the program whether they know anything about it or not. The Amazon webpage linked above says Sidewalk “is currently only available in the US.”

https://arstechnica.com/gadgets/2021/05/amazon-devices-will-soon-automatically-share-your-internet-with-neighbors/


1,226 posted on 06/01/2021 7:10:39 AM PDT by Melian (Faithless is he that says farewell when the road darkens. ~ Gimli)
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To: Melian

thanks for that.
I don’t show sidewalk in my alexa app.
I’ll keep an eye out ...


1,237 posted on 06/01/2021 8:03:38 AM PDT by stylin19a (Golf is a game invented by the same people who think music comes out of a bagpipe.)
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To: Melian

Thank you!


1,371 posted on 06/02/2021 2:54:56 AM PDT by I_be_tc ( )
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