We briefly discussed Amazon’s upcoming Sidewalk feature before. Sidewalk will use a mesh network of Amazon devices to allow other Amazon devices to use an internet connection, wherever they can find it. So, for example, if an Amazon Echo doesn’t have access to the internet, but the house across the street has an Amazon device, like a Ring, Echo, Fire TV, and even partner devices, like Tile trackers, then the first Echo can use the neighbor’s internet. The data use is minimal, and encrypted, but you may not want other people using your network for any reason.
If that’s the case, now’s the time to turn it off. Amazon will turn on Sidewalk on June 8th. Here’s how you can protect your devices from taking part.
Turning Off Sidewalk
Amazon has hidden this in a few layers, but here’s what you’ll have to do.
- Open the Amazon Alexa app for iOS or Android.
- On the bottom right, select “More.”
- Towards the bottom, select “Settings.”
- The second item is “Account Settings.” Select that.
- Select “Amazon Sidewalk,” if it’s visible. If you have no devices that support it, you won’t see the setting.
- Turn it off.
Amazon says they’re respecting privacy, but Amazon is a company in the business of data collection. They gather heaps of user data for the purpose of more accurate suggestions and ads. Amazon will even enter product categories, allegedly copying their competitors, based off of the user data they’ve collected. You can be forgiven for not trusting Amazon.
The system itself isn’t outlandish. In fact, if you have iOS devices, AirTags work off of that kind of mesh network for Find My. However, Apple doesn’t profit from selling or analyzing user data, and has no interest in collecting it. Amazon can’t make the same claim. You can decide how your data and internet connection is used. If Amazon makes you uncomfortable, you may want to turn this feature off.
Sources:
- Killian Bell, Cult of Mac
- Ben Lovejoy, 9to5Mac