Amazon Ring has announced that it will stop allowing police to request footage from users’ doorbell cameras via its neighborhood watch application.
In a recent blog entry, the company revealed its decision to phase out the “Request for Assistance” feature. This feature had enabled law enforcement agencies to ask for video recordings from community members through a public post in Ring’s Neighbors app.
Eric Kuhn, the head of Neighbors, stated in the blog post, “While fire and police departments can continue using the Neighbors app to post safety tips, updates, and information about local events, they will no longer have the capability to request videos using the RFA tool.”
Initially, in 2021, Ring had made such police requests for user footage transparent within its Neighbors app. Before that, law enforcement could directly message users to request footage from their smart doorbell cameras.
Law enforcement agencies can still access Ring video recordings through legal channels like search warrants or subpoenas. Following a 2022 inquiry by Senator Ed Markey, D-Mass., about its collaborations with police, Ring revealed it might provide footage directly to law enforcement in urgent situations involving a significant risk of death or serious injury.
Amazon acquired Ring in 2015 for about $1 billion. Best known for its smart doorbell cameras, Ring has since expanded its product line to include various home security solutions, including camera-equipped floodlights and drone cameras.
Ring’s partnerships with numerous U.S. police departments have been a subject of privacy concerns. Critics argue that these collaborations, along with the Neighbors app, increase the chances of racial profiling and transform citizens into informants, with minimal restrictions on how law enforcement uses the footage.
Jamie Siminoff, Ring’s ex-CEO, had promoted the device as a tool for public safety and community protection. Siminoff stepped down last year and was succeeded by Elizabeth Hamren, formerly of Microsoft and Discord.
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Kuhn also mentioned upcoming changes to the Neighbors app in his post, highlighting new features such as “Ring Moments,” which will broaden the range of content beyond crime and safety, and a “Best of Ring” feature showcasing a selection of popular videos.
