{"id":68013,"date":"2021-06-05T12:56:31","date_gmt":"2021-06-05T16:56:31","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/stateofthenation.co\/?p=68013"},"modified":"2021-06-05T12:56:31","modified_gmt":"2021-06-05T16:56:31","slug":"everyone-get-off-amazon-yesterday-and-especially-by-june-8th","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/stateofthenation.co\/?p=68013","title":{"rendered":"Everyone, get off Amazon—YESTERDAY! And especially by June 8th."},"content":{"rendered":"

Why You Should Disable \u2018Amazon Sidewalk\u2019 on All Devices Before June 8<\/h1>\n

On June 8, Amazon will automatically connect all wireless smart devices, including Alexa and Echo speakers and Ring cameras, to a \u201cmesh wireless network\u201d that could pose privacy and safety risks.<\/em><\/h3>\n

By Aimee Villella McBride
\nThe Defender<\/p>\n

On June 8, Amazon will activate Amazon Sidewalk<\/a>, a mass wireless sharing network. Users of all Amazon smart devices will be automatically enrolled, without consent, unless they opt out by disabling the network settings.<\/p>\n

Amazon Sidewalk will connect all Amazon devices, such as Alexa, Echo speakers and Ring security cameras<\/a> \u2014 including tile trackers, Ring spotlight and floodlight cameras, smart lights and smart locks \u2014 to a local \u201cmesh wireless network.\u201d For a complete list of devices that will be activated, review Amazon\u2019s FAQ<\/a>.<\/p>\n

The Amazon Sidewalk network will allow shared internet use up to within about a half-mile radius of the Amazon device. In effect, this network is part of the creation of \u201csmart cities<\/a>.\u201d The more devices connected, the stronger the network will become, according to Amazon<\/a>.<\/p>\n

\u201cAmazon is marketing the network with the slogan, \u2018A stronger network,\u2019 but this network does not serve the best interest of people,\u201d said Dafna Tachover, director of the Children\u2019s Health Defense<\/a> 5G and wireless harms project.<\/a> \u201cAmazon Sidewalk serves the interests of Amazon and other greedy corporations.\u201d<\/p>\n

Tachover added:<\/p>\n

\u201cWhat Amazon\u2019s network really means is the more devices connected, the more data they can extract, analyse, sell, use and abuse. Additionally this network will expose people in their homes and outside to more intense and harmful ambient radiation.\u201d<\/p>\n

Amazon Sidewalk includes a \u201cCommunity Finding\u201d feature that allows people outside of your home to connect with Amazon\u2019s servers through your Alexa, Echo, Ring and related smart devices.<\/p>\n

Violation of privacy, personal data and safety<\/strong><\/p>\n

Amazon clearly planned this network years in advance, but didn\u2019t publicly announce it until early this month \u2014 just days before activation.<\/p>\n

Most people have no idea the network will be activated on June 8, or that they will be automatically connected without consent. Even fewer understand the full implications.<\/p>\n

Ashkan Soltani, former chief technology officer of the U.S. Federal Trade Commission, told the tech site Ars Technica:<\/a><\/p>\n

\u201cIn addition to capturing everyone\u2019s shopping habits (from amazon.com) and their internet activity (as AWS is one of the most dominant web hosting services) \u2026 now they are also effectively becoming a global ISP with a flick of a switch, all without even having to lay a single foot of fiber.\u201d<\/p>\n

Anyone who owns or has access to an RF meter<\/a> can measure the radiofrequency radiation levels prior to June 8, then measure the levels again on or after June 8, to determine if there is an increase. This is important information to capture, as wireless radiation in homes can negatively impact health<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Being part of the Amazon \u201csmart\u201d networks increases the chances devices and information will be hacked<\/a>, as \u201csmart\u201d wireless devices are prone to hacking. Amazon has been sued<\/a> by Ring users whose devices were hacked<\/a> \u2014 some received ransom demands.<\/p>\n

In December 2019, the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) warned<\/a> smart TVs can be used to spy on people in their homes. The FBI encouraged people to disable the network connection settings, the type of settings Amazon is now remotely activating on their devices.<\/p>\n

How to opt out and disable settings<\/strong><\/p>\n

Anyone who doesn\u2019t want to be automatically enrolled in Amazon Sidewalk on June 8 can opt out by disabling the network on their Amazon devices. Here\u2019s how:<\/p>\n

Open the Alexa app:<\/p>\n

    \n
  1. Open \u201cmore\u201dand select \u201csettings.\u201d<\/li>\n
  2. Select \u201caccount settings.\u201d<\/li>\n
  3. Select \u201cAmazon Sidewalk.\u201d<\/li>\n
  4. Turn Amazon Sidewalk \u201coff.\u201d<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

    Per Amazon\u2019s FAQ<\/a>, customers who have Ring devices can choose to update their Amazon Sidewalk preferences anytime from the Control Center in the Ring app or Ring website.<\/p>\n

    Customers with Echo devices can update their Amazon Sidewalk preferences anytime from \u201csettings\u201d in the Alexa app. If users have linked Ring and Amazon accounts, their Sidewalk preferences on either the Alexa or Ring app will apply to eligible Echo and Ring devices.<\/p>\n

    Amazon is banking on millions of customers who aren\u2019t aware of this upcoming activation on June 8. Share this information, including the health risks and violation of privacy and safety online, with your neighbors, family and friends. Encourage them to opt out and to share this article.<\/p>\n

    ___
    \n    https:\/\/childrenshealthdefense.org\/defender\/disable-amazon-sidewalk-all-devices\/?utm_source=salsa&eType=EmailBlastContent&eId=d7469d69-4a7b-4b6b-9134-963532bbd874<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

    Why You Should Disable \u2018Amazon Sidewalk\u2019 on All Devices Before June 8 On June 8, Amazon will automatically connect all wireless smart devices, including Alexa and Echo speakers and Ring cameras, to a \u201cmesh wireless network\u201d that could pose privacy … Continue reading →<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-68013","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-uncategorized"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"http:\/\/stateofthenation.co\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/68013","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"http:\/\/stateofthenation.co\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"http:\/\/stateofthenation.co\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/stateofthenation.co\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/stateofthenation.co\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=68013"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"http:\/\/stateofthenation.co\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/68013\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"http:\/\/stateofthenation.co\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=68013"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/stateofthenation.co\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=68013"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/stateofthenation.co\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=68013"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}