By In a move prioritizing user privacy, Ring announces a significant policy shift, limiting law enforcement’s access to home security footage
Ring, a household name in home security, recently announced a significant policy update, set to take effect in February 2024. This change, highlighted in a Jan. 24, 2024, blog post by Eric Kuhn, head of the Neighbors platform, will see the removal of the “Request for Assistance” feature. This tool, previously used by police to request user footage, will no longer be available on the Neighbors app.
“The Neighbors app will continue to be a platform where fire and police departments can share safety tips and community updates,” the blog post clarified. “However, the RFA tool, which allowed for direct video requests and receipt within the app, will be disabled. Public safety posts will remain visible on the Neighbors app feed and on the respective agency profiles.”
Our inquiry to Ring about this update yielded further insights: “As we refine the Neighbors platform’s future, our focus is on developing new product experiences more aligned with Ring’s vision, empowering users to connect and stay informed about local government and public safety updates.”
Amazon’s Ring has made a clear statement: no more sharing videos with law enforcement. This policy shift addresses concerns from privacy advocates and users about the potential for unknowing data sharing. However, it’s important to note that law enforcement still retains avenues for accessing Ring videos.
Law enforcement’s remaining access: Warrants and emergencies
The deactivation of the Neighbor app’s Request for Assistance feature comes with significant exceptions. First, there’s the special emergency request option, a legal pathway separate from the RFA tool. This allows police to directly request video for critical, life-threatening situations. Ring’s spokesperson highlighted examples like severe injury, kidnapping, and attempted murder, emphasizing their rarity.
Amazon’s response to Senator Ed Merkey’s request for information revealed that Ring’s discretion in emergency cases had led to video sharing on 11 occasions over seven months in 2022.
Moreover, law enforcement can still obtain warrants or subpoenas to access video footage without user consent. These warrants, requiring judicial approval, must specify the time frame and scope of the footage to be reviewed and collected.
Ring users: What to do next
For Ring users, this policy change requires minimal action. Stay informed by following the Ring blog and updates in privacy news. Ensure that your Ring devices are operational and connected for any upcoming firmware updates, and keep your Ring app and related applications current.
In addition to removing the Request for Assistance feature, Ring plans to introduce new functionalities like Ring Moments for sharing light-hearted videos and a “Best of Ring” video compilation.
Enhancing security camera privacy To safeguard your privacy, review the policies of your security provider thoroughly. If the potential for sharing your security footage with law enforcement concerns you, consider alternatives to cameras and doorbells that automatically upload to cloud storage. Like Ring, other companies, including Google, have emergency policies in place.
For greater privacy control, opt for security devices offering local storage solutions, such as microSD cards or connected hubs, like the Lorex Video Doorbell. When video data isn’t stored on a company’s cloud service, it’s less accessible for sharing with law enforcement, though still subject to legal warrants.
