CHARLOTTE, N.C. — If you own an Amazon Smart Home device, like an Alexa Echo or Dot, a Fire Cube, or some of the Ring camera devices, then read on. Amazon is rolling out what’s called “Amazon Sidewalk,” a setting that will automatically share some of your bandwidth with the neighborhood.
Internet privacy experts aren't happy, in fact they're saying wait just a darn minute. The big hoopla is over the fact that Amazon has automatically enabled this feature for you, and if you don’t want to participate, you actually have to choose to opt out.
These devices have changed our modern lives -- you can ask it to play any song, check a weather forecast, hear news briefs, get a package delivered, be notified when it arrives, and more.
But now, Amazon is rolling out yet another new feature called Amazon Sidewalk, a setting that will share a piece of your internet with others to create a neighborhood network.
Amazon’s website says, “Amazon Sidewalk creates a low-bandwidth network with the help of Sidewalk Bridge devices including select Echo and Ring devices. These Bridge devices share a small portion of your internet bandwidth which is pooled together to provide these services to you and your neighbors. And when more neighbors participate, the network becomes even stronger.”
So, does it cost anything? No, Amazon says it’s free. Do you enroll in it? No, Amazon automatically does it for you. Would your privacy be compromised? Amazon says no, multiple layers of security will protect you.
Amazon’s website specifically addresses this issue saying, “Preserving customer privacy and security is foundational to how we’ve built Amazon Sidewalk. Sidewalk is designed with multiple layers of privacy and security to secure data traveling on the network and to keep customers safe and in control. For example, Sidewalk Bridge owners do not receive any information about devices owned by others connected to Sidewalk.”
But privacy experts say not so fast.
“My recommendation to everyone is turn it off,” said Jim Turner, a legal technology expert with Hilltop Consultants, an Intelliteach Company. “Amazon touts the ability to track your dog or get notifications when your mailbox opens. I don’t think that the privacy risks are worth the potential rewards."
How to Opt Out of Sidewalk
Remember, this feature automatically enrolls you. So how do you opt-out if that’s your choice? It’s easy.
- Open your Alexa app
- Tap “more” in the lower-left corner
- Tap “settings”
- Tap “account settings”
- Tap “Amazon Sidewalk”
- Switch it to the left which disables it. It should then say disabled.
This service isn't available in many places. Not yet, anyway, but it's coming.
Log on to Amazon and read the fine print about this so you can decide for yourself about your participation. Once on Amazon's website, search for "Amazon Sidewalk" in the search option and you can read all about it, or click here for more information.