Done right, this is actually a good thing. I’ve long wanted home routers to provide a mesh network by default, enabling a critical mass to bypass ISP service per se - a ubiquitous Internet connectivity without requiring crappy basic service.
Idea here is each router provides a SMALL fraction of bandwidth to anyone/everyone else, providing basic service to everyone and pressure for ISPs to improve service (rather than milk it).
It’s hard to convince Luddites…but actually, without their knowledge, they’ve been listened to, spied upon and “shared” for years with one device or system or another. It’s the downside of devices that make life much more pleasant, but it’s pretty much inevitable in any electronic contact with anything.
I avoided Alexa for a while (although the device now comes with a pledge to listen only when you say her name or summon her up with some other signal), but the ease of use for music in the house, reminders, shopping lists, questions about some obscure rock star, etc. is really nice. Enjoy it but be reasonably prudent.
The point is that you can’t prevent “them” from getting your information…the important thing is to prevent “them,” including the government, from misusing it.
People are wasting time getting hysterical about the technology, which can be used for much good or much bad, but is neutral in itself. What you have to worry about is controlling (a) who gets the information and (b) what they do with it.
I have spectrum out in the country. I only get a small fraction of bandwidth. I can’t spare a single packet. Not one sheet !