Ring Doorbell Camera

[calendria]

 

 

Do you have a doorbell camera?  I don't have wiring there for a doorbell much less a camera.
Would you get one knowing this?

https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/crime/amazon-gave-ring-camera-footage-to-police-without-owners-consent-11-times/ar-AAZxUXl?OCID=ansmsnnews11

July 13 (UPI) -- Amazon gave Ring doorbell camera footage, without owners' consent, to police at least 11 times this year, according to findings released Wednesday.

"Ring's surveillance system threatens the public in ways that go far beyond abstract privacy invasion," Markey wrote in June. "Individuals may use Ring devices' audio recordings to facilitate blackmail, stalking and other damaging practices."

Amazon, which runs Ring cameras, had previously said the footage is handed over to police only if it is demanded by a court order, if the owner gives their permission or if there is an "emergency." Amazon said the 11 instances halfway through 2022 were "emergency situations," which the company defined as "cases involving imminent danger of death or serious physical injury to any person."

Markey said the findings from his investigation into Amazon, which bought the doorbell company in 2018, highlights the "close relationship between Ring and law enforcement.

"As my ongoing investigation into Amazon illustrates, it has become increasingly difficult for the public to move, assemble and converse in public without being tracked and recorded," Markey said in a statement Wednesday.

"Increasing law enforcement reliance on private surveillance creates a crisis of accountability, and I am particularly concerned that biometric surveillance could become central to the growing web of surveillance systems that Amazon and other powerful tech companies are responsible for," Markey added.

Amazon has repeatedly stated that police cannot view recordings unless clips are posted publicly or shared directly with police. Wednesday's letter is the first time the tech giant has confirmed it has handed over this information without an owner's consent.

Amazon's app called Neighbors allows users to post Ring camera footage and leave comments. Amazon currently has agreements with 2,161 police departments across the country allowing officers to use the app.

While Markey and others have raised privacy concerns, others say the cameras are useful crime-fighting tools that help police keep neighborhoods safe.
"In numerous property crimes, we have utilized the Ring portal and video received from it," Omaha Police Captain Steve Cerveny told KETV. "It's routinely used in those investigations and has proved useful recently in identifying suspects.

[ccandpam]

My Mom has a Doorbell camera. It is very neat. We can be in any room of 5he house and can still see who is at the door.

[myfreebees316]

I dont have one but im going to get one soon only because of the protection aspect it brings. You don't have to be home to see who or what is at your door and it has a speaker option too which is cool. If you ask me its better to be on the safe side when it comes to actually having to look outside your door you never know what maybe waiting for you on the other side when someone comes to your door

[cathy37]

I don't have a ring doorbell camera and will not be getting one because I live in a rental apartment.  We have a doorbell and a peep hole in the door.

[potluck6]

My son has one he likes it but you need a smartphone

[ssarber]

No one comes to our door up in the mountains, so it wouldn't do much for us.

[oldbuddy]

My son has one he likes it but you need a smartphone

Not really, a tablet with Wi-Fi can do the job as long as you don't need reception away from home. You can even monitor it from an Amazon Echo Show.

[linderlizzie]

Yes. I would get one. I think it's a good thing. 

[plennis]

I have one, we just have to get it installed.  I think it will be in this weekend.  I think I will really like it.

[mrisha]

My son has one he likes it but you need a smartphone

Not really, a tablet with Wi-Fi can do the job as long as you don't need reception away from home. You can even monitor it from an Amazon Echo Show.

I am working on my getting my blink camera setup.  I plan to add my show 8 plus smartphone.

[UGetPaid]

We recently got a blink camera doorbell, but I think it was a waste of good money. Our front door is less than 15 feet away from a busy street and the motion detection of every single car that drives down the street sets it off dozens of times every single hour. It is battery operated and we've had to replace the battery several times in less than a month.


I think it likely has a setting to turn off motion detection altogether, but that really defeats the purpose of why we wanted the camera in the first place. We want it for security, not for the novelty of seeing video of someone who actually pressed the doorbell button. A thief stealing a package off of the front steps is not going to ring the button before swiping the package.

[linderlizzie]

So did anyone see the ring video where the little girl is apparently being kidnapped and scares the guy away with her screams? It's so cool. That little girl is so smart! 

[mrisha]

I have a doorbell Camera.  I just have to install and set it up. 

[dreamyxo]

I don't have one.  No real plans of getting one.  My brother wanted to install it but I don't think it's necessary for me.