WEB: Ring to End Police Access to Doorbell Camera Footage
Amazon-Owned Company Faces Backlash Over Privacy Concerns
Ring, a maker of internet-connected cameras owned by Amazon, has announced that it will no longer allow police and other government agencies to request doorbell camera footage. The decision comes after years of controversy over the company's sharing of surveillance data without users' consent.
In a statement, Ring said that it had "heard the concerns raised by our users and the public about police access to doorbell camera footage." The company added that it was "committed to protecting our users' privacy and ensuring that they have control over their data."
The decision to end police access to doorbell camera footage is a significant step for Ring, which has been criticized in the past for its coziness with law enforcement. In 2020, the company was fined $1 million by the Federal Trade Commission for misleading customers about how their data was being shared with police.
The decision by Ring is likely to be welcomed by privacy advocates, who have long argued that the company's doorbell cameras give police and other government agencies too much power to surveil innocent citizens. The move is also a sign that the public is increasingly becoming aware of the privacy risks associated with smart home devices.
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