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.
Until they send you an update that silently renewable it.
I disabled Alexa on this most recent Kindle. Is the only way to disable sidewalk thru Alexa?
What could possibly go wrong?
Maybe have to wait for the week to end?
No kidding... Property has become very hard to come by here in Southern Ohio.. Nearly Everything sells within a matter days..
A friend of mine was selling his house on his own for 170.. A Realtor call him and told him he was crazy and listed it for him @ 225.. He ended up selling it for 235... And that all happened in a matter of something like three weeks..!!!
At this point in time it seem people are desperate to get out of the big cities...
My guess is it’s in their BS user agreement.
Wait. What?
None of that crap’s ever been in my condo. Everyone else around the 40 unit complex seems to have it.
Ping
bookmark
Chevy and Ford are going to loan out your cars when they’re not in use.
Elon just wants to watch you.
Xfinity has been doing it for quite a while on their routers as well. If you rent one from them it automatically sets up a hot spot that others can use. Wall to wall internet. It's why I bought my own cable modem/router.
Good thing we don’t have Xfinity. 😱
😂
Amazon announced this a few months ago and I made sure the GF and I were both opted out then. Looks like I’m going to have to check and make sure that’s still true.
Yabut does it really turn it off?
Yep, still Disabled. No “Amazon Sidewalk” b.s. here!
I have Blink and Ring. Called Blink to opt out and they did not know what I was discussing. Called Amazon and spoke with someone in the sidewalk group. He said Alexa or Echo are needed for the Blink or Ring to use Sidewalk. I also told him this was handled badly and to enroll users by not opting out with in ten days was an issue. I plan to call Ring to discuss. If I find out differs then above I will let you know.
Yes. I disabled it a few months ago and it’s still disabled. I just set a calendar reminder to myself to check again in a week.
You can have all the long passwords, two-factor authentication, and other doo-dads you want, and it won't mean a thing if the iPhone operating system itself decides that certain "privileged" applications have the right to bypass it all.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.