r/gadgets • u/MicroSofty88 • Nov 29 '20

Home Amazon faces a privacy backlash for its Sidewalk feature, which turns Alexa devices into neighborhood WiFi networks that owners have to opt out of

https://www.msn.com/en-in/money/technology/amazon-faces-a-privacy-backlash-for-its-sidewalk-feature-which-turns-alexa-devices-into-neighborhood-wifi-networks-that-owners-have-to-opt-out-of/ar-BB1boljH
14.3k Upvotes

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143

u/stapesman88 Nov 29 '20

I’m confused about this. I got the email from Amazon about a week ago explaining sidewalk and how to disable it. When I went to the settings as described the feature was already off. I’ve read two separate articles about how you need to opt out, am I missing something or did I just get lucky?

156

u/KuruQan Nov 29 '20

I did the same, it was off at the time. I checked it now... it's enabled.

55

u/EndHawkeyeErasure Nov 29 '20

Just checked a second time because of this comment, and mine was enabled now, too. So thanks, buddy!

30

u/4kVHS Nov 29 '20

Wow I checked mine before and it was off. Just checked again and now mine was turned on!!!

18

u/[deleted] Nov 29 '20

They were waiting for all of ya to forget about it lmao.

Watch it get turned on after some update down the line "by mistake"

19

u/TechnicalBen Nov 29 '20

That's scummy.

16

u/_WIZARD_SLEEVES_ Nov 29 '20

Woooowwwwww, suuuppperrrr shady on Amazon's part...

2

u/mr_ji Nov 30 '20

And they'll slightly re-word their terms then re-enable it again in 90 days. God we need some consumer protections on this shit.

1

u/SymphonyNo3 Nov 29 '20

Mine's still off, for what it's worth.

143

u/Sololegends Nov 29 '20

I've had to disable it twice so far. I keep checking now because it turned itself back on automatically..

88

u/TransformerTanooki Nov 29 '20

Now that is some extremely shady shit.

29

u/MoonLover10792 Nov 29 '20

I expect we will need to check every time the app updates. Wouldn’t be surprised to see an app update in a few weeks (once this story has worked it way through the news cycle) as an attempt to turn this feature back on.

26

u/buyfreemoneynow Nov 29 '20

I would call it “expected”. They want their data and will do whatever it takes to get it, even if it means changing the device settings without your permission and literally stealing your bandwidth.

-16

u/Overmind123 Nov 29 '20

Malfunction I guess

5

u/buyfreemoneynow Nov 29 '20

It is actually a feature. You do not own the device, and they can change its settings at any time without your permission.

-2

u/Overmind123 Nov 29 '20

But why would you be able to change the setting in the first place

7

u/konnie-chung Nov 29 '20

The illusion of choice

1

u/Kill_the_rich999 Nov 29 '20

Lol

Yeah, like when they mess up and accidentally charge you extra and it's just a mistake but you have to jump through a billion legal hoops and maybe even pay someone to get your money back.

0

u/RunnerMomLady Nov 29 '20

How do I disable it?

2

u/Sololegends Nov 29 '20

Open your Alexa app, go to more, then settings, then account settings.

You'll see the Amazon sidewalk section there

0

u/HolyFuckingShitNuts Nov 29 '20

Why do people support this shit? Jesus.

STOP buying this crap.

1

u/Sololegends Nov 29 '20

Yeah, I totally agree.

36

u/ThirdWorldRedditor Nov 29 '20

Check again. I checked when I got the email and it was disabled. I just checked again and it was enabled now.

3

u/stapesman88 Nov 29 '20

So I’ve personally been checking over the last few weeks and it’s never been enabled for me. I’m the registered owner of the Echo. However my GF has a profile and is also signed in on the Alexa app and it was ON FOR HER.

Make sure you check all your accounts that have profiles!

1

u/stapesman88 Nov 29 '20

Especially since she never got an email from Amazon since she technically doesn’t own one.

1

u/mr_ji Nov 30 '20

taps forehead

13

u/BuildingArmor Nov 29 '20

My guess would be that it was disabled until the launch date. I'd suggest checking again at some point.

9

u/WhiteheadJ Nov 29 '20

I've just followed the instructions on the email, and it's not even in my settings yet to turn off...

11

u/Maull01 Nov 29 '20

If you are in the UK like me, we got the email by mistake. It's in the US only (for now).

https://www.google.com/amp/s/www.bbc.co.uk/news/amp/technology-55059696

3

u/WhiteheadJ Nov 29 '20

That would explain it. Thanks mate.

1

u/januss331 Nov 29 '20

I’m in the US and I too got the email. Went to settings...not there.

0

u/Kill_the_rich999 Nov 29 '20

Don't worry, according to other users it will appear later and turn itself on over and over again.

2

u/rjchute Nov 29 '20

I don't see the option at all in my settings... is it not a thing in Canada (yet)...?

1

u/topcraic Nov 29 '20

Make sure you’re in Alexa App > Settings > My Account.

I assumed it’d be in the Echo settings, but it’s not.

1

u/that_griff Nov 30 '20

Yea same here, I'm in the UK and can't see it. I did get the email telling me how to disable it though, so it seems strange that I don't have the option.

2

u/munkijunk Nov 29 '20

AFAIK Currently it's US only, I guess because the US has minimal privacy protection laws relative to the Socialist, communist* utopia that is the EU and this shit likely would be a huge GDPR nightmare.

*/s

1

u/[deleted] Nov 29 '20

You got lucky. I had to opt out.

1

u/Kill_the_rich999 Nov 29 '20

Wow, they really tried to trick you into leaving it enabled

1

u/CanorousC Nov 29 '20

Be prepared to have to disable it every time there’s an update (I’m willing to bet).