Amazon Sidewalk launches today; opt-out necessary

SALT LAKE CITY — We share on social media and we teach kids that sharing is a good thing. And starting today, thanks to Amazon Sidewalk, electronic devices linked to Amazon accounts will also start sharing.

If you have an Amazon account and devices, you are already signed up.

What is Amazon Sidewalk?

Beginning June 9, 2021, Amazon’s new product will siphon small portions of bandwidth from so-called bridge devices (certain Ring cameras and Echo speakers according to a FAQ that Amazon provided.) With that bandwidth, Sidewalk creates a shared network that can be used by people setting up new Amazon devices nearby. Sidewalk can also help keep your own Amazon devices, like Tile trackers, online when they are out of range of your home network.

What bridge devices are affected?

According to a FAQ on Amazon’s web page, Sidewalk devices include:

• Ring Floodlight Cam (2019),
• Ring Spotlight Cam Wired (2019)
• Ring Spotlight Cam Mount (2019)
• Echo (3rd gen and newer)
• Echo Dot (3rd gen and newer)
• Echo Dot for Kids (3rd gen and newer)
• Echo Dot with Clock (3rd gen and newer)
• Echo Plus (all generations)
• Echo Show (2nd gen)
• Echo Show 5, 8, 10 (all generations),
• Echo Spot
• Echo Studio
• Echo Input
• Echo Flex

How to disable Amazon Sidewalk

If you do not want Sidewalk enabled on your bridge devices, open the device on your Alexa app. Select more, then select settings. Select account settings, select Amazon Sidewalk, then tap on the toggle icon to enable or disable Sidewalk.

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