Yay Dystopia!

If you own an Amazon Echo or Ring camera, on June 8th, Amazon will be turning on ‘Sidewalk’, its wireless network.

As I understand it ‘Sidewalk’ tunnels through your internet connection to Amazon servers. It then connects with other Amazon devices through Bluetooth and an additional longer ranged protocol. Note that these connected devices are owned by others.

What this means is that Amazon devices set up a network of nearby devices and then connect through your internet to their own servers. There has apparently been little information from Amazon as to what they are going to allow to connect to ‘Sidewalk’, and why. But, although you pay for their data usage, you have no say, or even knowledge, as to what is being sent through your internet connection.

At this point, ‘Sidewalk’ is an ‘opt-out’ ‘feature’.

There’s an eyebrow-raising technology buried inside millions of Amazon Echo smart speakers and Ring security cameras. They have the ability to make a new kind of wireless network called Sidewalk that shares a slice of your home Internet connection with your neighbors’ devices.

And on Tuesday, Amazon is switching Sidewalk on — for everyone.

I’m digging into my settings to turn it off. Sidewalk raises more red flags than a marching band parade: Is it secure enough to be activated in so many homes? Are we helping Amazon build a vast network that can be used for more surveillance? And why didn’t Amazon ask us to opt-in before activating a capability lying dormant in our devices?

I recommend you opt out of Sidewalk, too, until we get much better answers to these questions.

Amazon is about to share your Internet connection with neighbors. Here’s how to turn it off.
washingtonpost.com