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[JimH]

I wonder how this will go...

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

[Scobie]

Just going through my neighbour's private emails now, doesn't look like he's in favour of it for some reason.

[JimH]

Haha.

[EnglishTiger]

I'd love to see Jeff Bezos, and his cronies, reactions when either a U.K. or E.U. Parliamentary Committee put them through the intense grilling that would inevitably happen if they decided to try and launch it in either the U.K. or the E.U.

[Wheaten]

Well,
If the end-user must accept and/or manually activate this service it should not be a big thing.
However they will be annoying Amazon on the data that is being transmitted/kept/analyzed.

I am more nervous what will happen when my fridge starts whatsapp-ing with the neighbors fridge???
and challenging each other to order things. before you know it I've 10kg of caviar........

 

[Manfred]

I shop with Amazon but don't buy their "smart" devices - no way.-)

[antenna]

I wonder how this will go...

I have difficulty seeing that end up in a happy place.

 

[dtc]

CNET has a more in-depth article on Sidewalk. And, Amazon has a whitepaper on security.

Sidewalk uses either Bluetooth LE or 900MHz signals. The BLE signals are not very strong and probably will not go outside your home. The 900 MHz signal has a much longer range but does not have much bandwidth.  Only a few of the newest devices (Ring Spotlight or Floodlight cam, spherical Echo or the Echo Show 10) have 900 MHz capabilities.  Older devices like Echoes or Dots only use BLE.

The Amazon Whitepaper is pretty convincing on security issues, although there will undoubtedly be some holes.

It really does not seem to be a major problem and,  for most people, there is probably a lot more data already out there from browsing than this service will gather. Savvy people can turn it off.

https://www.cnet.com/home/smart-home/amazon-sidewalk-will-create-entire-smart-neighborhoods-faq-ble-900-mhz/

https://m.media-amazon.com/images/G/01/sidewalk/final_privacy_security_whitepaper.pdf

[datdude]

Well,
If the end-user must accept and/or manually activate this service it should not be a big thing.
However they will be annoying Amazon on the data that is being transmitted/kept/analyzed.

I am more nervous what will happen when my fridge starts whatsapp-ing with the neighbors fridge???
and challenging each other to order things. before you know it I've 10kg of caviar........

That’s the thing it’s opt out. And what happens when they push new version which resets everyone’s preferences and don’t tell anyone?

Right now I don’t see it as an option in my settings so I’m going to have to keep checking until they update my app and then opt out which is even more annoying.

[dtc]

Right now I don’t see it as an option in my settings so I’m going to have to keep checking until they update my app and then opt out which is even more annoying.

It's in my Android app.

[Wheaten]

Seems a typical US thingy. These are the top 5 fines issued by the EU.
Big brother is watching.......

• Apple – $14.8bn in 2016
• Google – $5bn in 2018
• Google – $2.7bn in 2017
• Intel – $1.45bn in 2009
• Qualcomm – $1.2bn in 2018

[davelr]

It's in my Android app.

Could you elaborate? Tnx

[dtc]

Could you elaborate? Tnx

Alexa

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Settings

Account Settings

Amazon Sidewalk

[larryrup]

Thanks for this info.  First I've heard of it.  Our State and Federal law makers are SO far behind in protecting us.  For shame.

Why doesn't Microsoft get as much negative press for using YOUR bandwidth to distribute Windows Updates to other Windows end users?  Same thing, default is opt in....and try and find the switch to turn this off.  Funny how after turning this off, I find it on months later.

Thanks for posting this.

Larry