Amazon's Ring Doorbell Is Watching More Than Your Porch

Amazon bought Ring for 1 billion dollars in 2018. Now Ring doorbells are everywhere. They record motion. They let you talk to delivery drivers. They also share video with police without telling you.

In 2022, Ring admitted giving police footage 11 times without user consent in emergency situations. Privacy advocates were horrified. Amazon said it was legal. They were probably right. But legal and ethical are different.

Ring also partners with over 2,000 police departments. Officers ask Ring users for footage. Most say yes. They want to be good neighbors. They do not realize that footage stays forever. It can be used for anything. Not just the crime they wanted to help solve.

For beginners buying smart home devices, read the privacy policy. Assume everything is shared. Amazon is a data company. They sell things. But they collect even more. Your doorbell video is valuable. Not just to you. To them.