[teekert]

I wouldn't like if I would specifically keep my Samsung Smart TV offline because Samsung themselves advice not to talk about sensitive things in front of the telly [0], and then finding out that it did go online, via my neighbor's helpful Alexa... No thank you.

[0] https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/technology-31296188

[Spivak]

I mean is this any different than a rogue appliance connecting to your neighbors open Wi-Fi or just partnering with a cellular network?

[pranau]

Are there any indications that the Sidewalk network can be used to relay other than device control information?

[teekert]

Maybe not, but as always it comes down to trust. And I trust Apple to be more diligent with my iPhone's AirTag locating capabilities than Amazon is with their ability to help any device get online.

Amazon makes things cheap and easy but not always in ways agree with.

As a counter Example, Canonical got some critique with their "telemetry in the installer", but if you ask me, they did it in the nicest way possible: They told everyone that they want some data to focus developers' efforts where it counts and they let me inspect the json object I was about to send them, so I trust them and sent it to them with a smile.

[smoldesu]

In all fairness, there are several ways to transmit arbitrary information on the AirTag protocol. The overall reason why people trust Apple with Airtags/Find My is because they're too big to fail. Everyone has already come to terms with the fact that iCloud owns their photos, iTunes owns their music... what's the difference if they also have your location data?

[teekert]

My iPhone’s backend is Nextcloud (files, picture uploads, contacts, calendar) I have 0 bytes in iCloud.

[giobox]

I agree with this, but I'd add that if you have already trusted Amazon enough to purchase and run 24/7 with full access to your home network their remotely controlled and configured internet microphone, drawing the line at this feature seems a little odd to me.

If you own an Echo device and used it prior to this feature you had already granted a large degree (relative to this feature) of trust to Amazon anyway. It reminds me a little of people who swear they will never use an Echo device due to concerns about eavesdropping but happily carry an internet microphone equiped smartphone everywhere.

[robotshmobot]

Sometimes people just need a final straw.

[pranau]

Thanks, that makes sense. Eventually, it does come down to trust then. I was under the impression that there was a technical reason as to why Amazon Sidewalk is worse than Find My.

[ClumsyPilot]

Ofcouras not, they will just add it next week and you will have 2 hours to opt out

We need laws against this shit

[ClumsyPilot]

Thank you fpr letting me know. This is incredulous - 1984 where tv watches you, has come, without communism, and noone has noticed.