Amazon Can Share Your Internet Connection

A new feature called Sidewalk is being rolled out for several Amazon devices including Echo and Ring. This potential invasion of privacy creates a “low bandwidth network” by sharing small amounts of internet network connectivity between nearby devices (i.e. your neighbor’s devices, on their network). This allows devices to remain online even if a particular user’s home network goes down. Courier Press reports:

“Amazon, of course, touts it all as a positive. It will supposedly keep smartlights and locks humming even if they dip out of your network’s range. It could allow your security cameras to detect motion without Wi-Fi, and the pinging, interconnected devices in your neighborhood could help you locate lost items, the company claims.”