A homeowner and Amazon loyalist had has faith tested in the company recently, after Amazon deactivated his smart devices in his smart home, and blocked his account without any notice, over a purported racist remark he said inside his own home.
Brandon Jackson, the man affected by this incident, explains that most of his devices run through Amazon Echo via Alexa, one of these being his Ring (also owned by Amazon); an interactive doorbell that doubles as a security camera, which has a small camera and highly sensitive microphone that users can monitor with their smart phone.
When Jackson’s devices became inoperable and his account was blocked, Jackson, long story short, was able to get into contact with an actual executive at Amazon. The executive then referenced a short audio clip captured from the Ring that alleges Jackson made a racist remark towards an Amazon deliveryman.
Jackson of course did no such thing, and when he submitted the evidence that there was a misunderstanding and no inflammatory comments were made, Amazon reinstated his account and returned full functionality to the Amazon devices and interlinked items, ceasing communications and offering no real reason behind the mix-up.
Brandon Jackson’s full story can be read below, published by Medium on June 4th:
On Wednesday, May 31, 2023, I finally regained access to my Amazon account after an unexpected and unwarranted lockout that lasted nearly a week, from Thursday, May 25. This wasn’t just a simple inconvenience, though. I have a smart home, and my primary means of interfacing with all the devices and automations is through Amazon Echo devices via Alexa. This incident left me with a house full of unresponsive devices, a silent Alexa, and a lot of questions.
Unpacking The Cause
The sequence of events that led to this digital exile began innocuously enough. A package was delivered to my house on Wednesday, May 24, and everything seemed fine. The following day, however, I found that my Echo Show had signed out, and I was unable to interact with my smart home devices. My initial assumption was that someone might have attempted to access my account repeatedly, triggering a lockout. I use a fairly old email address for my Amazon account, and it’s plausible that an old password might have been exposed in a past data breach. However, I currently use strong, auto-generated passwords via Apple and employ two-factor authentication with an authenticator app, so unauthorized access seemed unlikely.
I swiftly checked my other accounts (social media, streaming apps, etc.) to ensure I hadn’t been compromised. All seemed normal, with no flood of notifications from Microsoft Authenticator that would indicate an attempted breach. Puzzled, I followed the advice of the Amazon app and dialed the customer service number it provided. That’s when things began to take a surreal turn.
An Unexpected Accusation
The representative told me I should have received an email, which I indeed found in my inbox. It was from an executive at Amazon. As I dialed the number provided in the email, I half-wondered if Amazon was experiencing some issues and I was unwittingly falling into a scam.
When I connected with the executive, they asked if I knew why my account had been locked. When I answered I was unsure, their tone turned somewhat accusatory. I was told that the driver who had delivered my package reported receiving racist remarks from my “Ring doorbell” (it’s actually a Eufy, but I’ll let it slide).
Addressing The Problem
Here’s where things got even more baffling. First, I have multiple cameras recording everything that happens on my property. If the driver’s claims were accurate, I could easily verify them with video footage. Second, most delivery drivers in my area share the same race as me and my family. It seemed highly unlikely that we would make such remarks. Finally, when I asked what time the alleged incident occurred, I realized it was practically impossible for anyone in my house to have made those comments, as nobody was home around that time (approximately 6:05 PM).
I reviewed the footage and confirmed that no such comments had been made. Instead, the Eufy doorbell had issued an automated response: “Excuse me, can I help you?” The driver, who was walking away and wearing headphones, must have misinterpreted the message. Nevertheless, by the following day, my Amazon account was locked, and all my Echo devices were logged out.
Let me be clear: I fully support Amazon taking measures to ensure the safety of their drivers. However, I question why my entire smart home system had to be rendered unusable during their internal investigation. It seems more sensible to impose a temporary delivery restriction or purchasing ban on my account. Submitting video evidence from multiple angles right after my initial call with the executive appeared to have little impact on their decision to disable my account.
The Fallout
This incident has led me to question my relationship with Amazon. After nearly a decade of loyalty, I’ve been given a harsh reminder that a misunderstanding can lead to such drastic measures. It seems more reasonable to handle such issues in a more compartmentalized way, rather than a blanket shutdown of all services.
Due to this experience, I am seriously considering discontinuing my use of Amazon Echo devices and will caution others about this incident. This ordeal has made a case for a more personalized home assistant system, perhaps utilizing Raspberry Pi devices scattered around the house.
The Resolution
Despite promptly submitting video evidence immediately upon learning of the issue, my account remained locked. The timing couldn’t have been worse: the onset of Labor Day weekend was approaching, and I was keen to resolve the issue before the long weekend. However, despite numerous calls and emails, it wasn’t until Friday afternoon that I received confirmation that the investigation had started. I was told to expect a response within two business days, meaning not until Tuesday of the following week at the earliest.
In the end, my account was unlocked on Wednesday, with no follow-up email to inform me of the resolution. This incident stands as a stark reminder of the need for better customer service and a more nuanced approach to incident management.
Through sharing my experience, I hope to encourage Amazon to reform and rethink their approach to handling such situations in the future. It’s essential for customers to feel confident in the security and reliability of their services, especially when those services are integral to the functionality of their homes. It’s time for Amazon to take a more customer-focused approach to problem-solving and conflict resolution.
AUTHOR COMMENTARY
Not only should Amazon devices be avoided, but anything that requires constant interconnectivity and smart interoperability, that can and all are all tethered together and are sent to one centralized hub or device.
Thorns and snares are in the way of the froward: he that doth keep his soul shall be far from them.
Proverbs 22:5
All under the hidden guise of convenience and easier access, people are now allowing themselves to enslaved and ensnared to these stupid devices that can listen and record everything, and can then be used against you at anytime; or God forbid the power grid and internet flickers for a time if not prolonged, but since people have become so dependent on these devices and machines they won’t know what do with themselves. Thus, people will capitulate and submit to just about anything because they trusted in convenience and forgot what it means to put a menial amount of effort into anything, as basic and mundane as they may be.
The hand of the diligent shall bear rule: but the slothful shall be under tribute.
Proverbs 12:24
But I mention this story because what you have just read is a sinister foreshadowing to what smart city life with social credit scores and CBDCs will be like. This is why the globalist and so-called “technocrats” by some want the smart cities and living arrangements filled with devices and appliances that all speak to each other; connected to a smart meter, which is then connected to a social credit score and thus affects people’s bank accounts with how many CBDCs then can transact with.
So, here’s a new flash: don’t yoke yourself up with these smart technologies, and do not become overly dependent on technology in general.
SEE: Trivergence: The Trifecta Of Totalitarian Control And AI Enslavement
The DQ Institute: The Social Credit Score To Become A Global Citizen To Use The Internet
[7] Who goeth a warfare any time at his own charges? who planteth a vineyard, and eateth not of the fruit thereof? or who feedeth a flock, and eateth not of the milk of the flock? [8] Say I these things as a man? or saith not the law the same also? [9] For it is written in the law of Moses, Thou shalt not muzzle the mouth of the ox that treadeth out the corn. Doth God take care for oxen? [10] Or saith he it altogether for our sakes? For our sakes, no doubt, this is written: that he that ploweth should plow in hope; and that he that thresheth in hope should be partaker of his hope. (1 Corinthians 9:7-10).
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Now that is CREEPY! 1984 anyone?
That’s what the world will become when the Antichrist is ruling over the earth going forth conquering and to conquer: it is going to be 1984 on steroids!
I think that every new home being built in the future would have this smart technology, but with a kill switch that will cut off water, heating, etc. for all dissenters.