Ring Security Cams

Warning: *privacy not included with this product

Smart Home

Ring Security Cams

Amazon
Wi-Fi

Review date: Nov. 2, 2020

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Mozilla researched 0 hours
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Mozilla says

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People voted: Super creepy
Amazon Ring's indoor and outdoor security cameras have all the usual--HD video, night vision, motion activation--to put your house under 24-hour surveillance. Monitor the video through an app on your phone or your Amazon Echo Show home hub. Ask Alexa to show you what's happening in your backyard, and boom, there it is. Just beware, even though Amazon Ring did address some of our privacy concerns with updates earlier in 2020 like adding mandatory two-factor authentication, these cameras still have some noted potential privacy issues that worry us. Ring gives law enforcement access to video captured through Ring cameras through its Neighbors Public Safety Service. This still raises a host of concerns around public safety and racism.

What could happen if something goes wrong?

This product raises a few red flags for us. Ring, owned by Amazon, has a history of not protecting users' privacy. At one point they stored customer data--including video recordings--unencrypted on an Amazon cloud server and employees could access any of this data. They have gotten more transparent in their privacy and data deletion practices, which we appreciate. And Ring, in response to the Black Lives Matter movement, has come out and stated they will not sell facial recognition technology to law enforcement. This past year Amazon's Ring has been pushed hard to change by Mozilla and others and we are happy to see them moving in the right direction. And while Amazon says they are distancing themselves from law enforcement access to users' video, they are still facilitating that access with this product and that leaves us concerned. All in all, these security video camera still raise questions about public safety and racism, in our opinion and we feel could come with *Privacy Not Included.
  • mobile

Can it snoop on me? information

Camera

Device: Yes

App: Yes

Microphone

Device: Yes

App: Yes

Tracks location

Device: Yes

App: Yes

What can be used to sign up?

What data does the company collect?

How does the company use this data?

Local law enforcement has access to active Ring cameras in a neighborhood via the Neighbors app. Law enforcement can make a video request to ask the community to assist in an investigation. When you submit a video in response to a request, police will receive your email address along with your street address. Police who download videos from customer cameras can keep them as long as they want and share them with anyone.

How can you control your data?

You can delete your recordings in your account at any time. You can request that data be deleted. You can opt out of third party analytics services on Ring.com and in the Ring App from the Control Center.

What is the company’s known track record of protecting users’ data?

Needs Improvement

According to a Forbes article, Amazon's workers viewed video clips from one of its home CCTV services to improve its AI analytics. While Amazon said that the clips were offered voluntarily by the customers, a Bloomberg article mentioned that the clips in question are not the kind that homeowners would want to share. Some video clips included obscene content and private moments of homeowners. Ring improved its security measures in January 2020 after reports of hackers accessing Ring cameras in December 2019 to harass people in their own homes.

Can this product be used offline?

No

User-friendly privacy information?

Yes

Links to privacy information

Does this product meet our Minimum Security Standards? information

Yes

Encryption

Yes

Videos are encrypted in storage and during transmission. Ring is offering end-to-end encryption.

Strong password

Yes

Two-factor authentication is now mandatory after major pressure from Mozilla and other groups.

Security updates

Yes

Manages vulnerabilities

Yes

Amazon has a bug bounty program, which means that anyone who finds a security issue and discloses it responsibly may get paid. https://hackerone.com/ring

Privacy policy

Yes

Although Ring has a privacy policy, there is a general lack of transparency around Ring's privacy practices.

Does the product use AI? information

Yes

Ring cameras use camera-based motion detection to start recording. A leaked survey allowing Beta testers to rank features included "face detection." Ring doesn't currenty use facial recognition technology, but things could always change.

Is this AI untrustworthy?

Can’t Determine

What kind of decisions does the AI make about you or for you?

Is the company transparent about how the AI works?

Yes

Does the user have control over the AI features?

Can’t Determine

*privacy not included

Dive Deeper

  • Amazon’s Ring is the largest civilian surveillance network the US has ever seen
    The Guardian
  • Ring's new privacy and security features prove that hardware isn't the only important thing
    CNET
  • Amazon's helping police build a surveillance network with Ring doorbells
    CNET
  • Poll: How Americans Feel About Nextdoor, Neighbors, and Police Partnerships
    Mozilla
  • Ring, 2FA, and a Win for Consumers
    Mozilla
  • Amazon’s Ring Is a Perfect Storm of Privacy Threats
    Matthew Guariglia
  • Inside the Podcast that Hacks Ring Camera Owners Live on Air
    Joseph Cox and Jason Koebler
  • Ring Doorbell App Packed with Third-Party Trackers
    EFF
  • Ring doorbells to send live video to Mississippi police
    BBC
  • About the Advanced Motion Detection System Used in Ring Devices
    Amazon

Comments

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