Amazon Sidewalk And The Issue Of Data Privacy

On June 8, Amazon is switching on what it calls "Sidewalk," which means that millions of Amazon Echos and Tiles and Rings that people have in their homes will instantly be connected into what's called a mesh-network, which is basically a really big internet-sharing system.

The positive to this, as the tech giant sees it, is that it allows all of these devices to stay connected to the internet, even if your home wifi network goes down for a moment. Plus, they'll have a larger range of use. 

The negative to this, as many privacy experts have noted, is that many people don't even know that it is happening, and this is an opt-out only choice, meaning that it is up to the consumer to navigate their way out of the Sidewalk network, which can be difficult for the technologically-challenged. Some people may not know what it means to have their network being shared with their neighbors. 

And, many people don't realize that companies like Amazon, Google, Facebook, and many others, collect information about you as you interact with their platforms, and then sell that information to advertisers. 

On The Sound of Ideas, we'll talk about Amazon Sidewalk and the greater issue of online privacy with Dr. Brian Krupp, Assistant Professor of Computer Science at Baldwin Wallace University. He has done research into privacy issues involving mobile and smart devices.  

Coming up this hour, ideastream's Gabriel Kramer previews a virtual conversation about the demand for middle skilled jobs. 

And then, a conversation about trauma therapy with the authors of the new book, Every Memory Deserves Respect
 

-Brian Krupp, D.Eng, Assistant Professor of Computer Science, Baldwin Wallace University

-Gabriel Kramer, Multiple Media Producer, ideastream

-Michael Baldwin, Co-Author, Every Memory Deserves Respect 

-Deborah L. Korn, Psy.D, Psychologist & Co-Author, Every Memory Deserves Respect