14 DAY TRIAL // If you use Alexa, Echo, or any other Amazon device, you have just 10 days to opt out of an experiment that puts your personal privacy and security at risk.
On June 8, the retail, web hosting, and entertainment giant will automatically enroll the gadgets in Amazon Sidewalk. The new wireless mesh service will share a small portion of your Internet bandwidth with nearby neighbors who do not have a connection.
Amazon products like Alexa, Echo, Ring, security cameras, outdoor lights, motion sensors, and Tile trackers are automatically added to the system. And since only a small percentage of people bother to change the default settings, millions are being added to the program whether they realize it or not. According to the Amazon page linked above, Sidewalk is currently only available in the United States.
How is Amazon promoting the experiment?
Amazon Sidewalk is a shared network that improves the performance of devices. Sidewalk is powered by Amazon at no cost to consumers and can help make new device setup easier, increase the working range of low-bandwidth devices to identify pets or valuables with tile trackers and keep devices online even when they're out of range of the house Wi-Fi. In the future, Sidewalk will offer a variety of experiences such as smart security and lighting, as well as appliance and tool diagnostics.
The maximum bandwidth from Sidewalk Bridge to the Sidewalk server is 80 Kbps, that is about a quarter of the bandwidth required to stream a typical high-definition video. If you share your Bridge's connection with Sidewalk, the total monthly data usage per account is currently limited to 500 MB (equivalent to streaming about 10 minutes of high-quality video).
Why does Amazon believe you should join Amazon Sidewalk?
Amazon Sidewalk allows your devices to connect and stay connected. For example, Sidewalk can help you reconnect to your router if your Echo device loses the Wi-Fi connection. You can continue to receive motion alerts from your Ring Security Cams, and customer service can troubleshoot issues even if your devices lose their Wi-Fi connection. Sidewalk can also extend the range of your products, such as Ring Smart Lights, Pet Locators, and Smart Locks, so they stay connected and work over longer distances. Amazon does not charge a fee to become a member of Sidewalk.
Amazon has published a whitepaper describing the technical underpinnings and terms of service that supposedly ensure the privacy and security of this daring project. To be fair, the report is quite extensive, and so far, no one has pointed out any particular vulnerabilities that weaken the encryption or other precautions implemented. However, there are enough conceivable dangers to give people pause.