If you have an Alexa-enabled device or any Amazon device that is Amazon Sidewalk-capable, you are automatically opted in to sharing up to 80Kbps (capped at 500MB per month) of your WiFi network with Amazon and your neighbors. After I tell you how to opt-out, I’ll tell you what it is and why Amazon thinks it’s a good idea. If you want to use the service and lend part of your WiFi network to Jeff Bezos, you don’t need to do anything. You are opted-in unless you do the following:
To disable Amazon Sidewalk, use the Alexa app.
- Open the Alexa app
- Tap “More” (Lower right hand corner of the bottom nav bar)
- Tap “Settings” (Gear icon 3rd from bottom)
- Tap “Account Settings” (Second selection from top)
- Tap “Amazon Sidewalk” (Second up from bottom)
- Tap the “enable” slider to toggle it to “disable” (scroll down to bottom of screen)
According to Amazon: “Amazon Sidewalk is a shared network that helps devices like Amazon Echo devices, Ring Security Cams, outdoor lights, motion sensors, and Tile trackers work better at home and beyond the front door. When enabled, Sidewalk can unlock unique benefits for your device, support other Sidewalk devices in your community, and even locate pets or lost items. 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.”
You can read more about it on Amazon.com.
I’m out. I don’t like the idea of being a node on an Amazon peer-to-peer network and enriching the richest man in the world with my bandwidth, my data and my money. I’m also out because I was “in” without being notified about it. It says one of two things to me: 1) The service is not valuable enough to get me to opt in. 2) The service is great for Amazon and does nothing for me. ’nuff said. You now have everything you need to make your own choice.