Hey everyone, I’ve been diving into the world of Matter devices lately and thought I’d share my experiences, especially regarding privacy and local control. 
I recently set up an Amazon Echo as a Matter border router, connecting it with a TP-Link Tapo smart plug. At first glance, everything worked smoothly—I could control the plug via the Amazon app, Hubitat, and Home Assistant. But here’s where it gets interesting: every time I used voice commands to control the device, the Echo reached out to Amazon’s servers, even though Matter is supposed to handle everything locally. 
To test this further, I disconnected the Echo from the internet. Surprisingly, I could still control the plug, which confirmed that local control was possible. However, after 24 hours without internet, the local control feature disappeared, forcing me to reconnect the Echo to restore functionality. 
This made me wonder—why is there such reliance on the cloud when Matter is designed for local operations? I’m concerned about Amazon collecting usage data, which could be used for AI training or other purposes. 
Has anyone else experienced similar issues? Are there alternative Matter border gateways that don’t report device usage to the cloud? I’d love to hear your thoughts and experiences! 
Cheers,
[Your Name]