Amazon’s Ring doorbell has become the largest private surveillance network in the nation. The company also shares surveillance videos with law enforcement agencies. This has raised concern among some as an infringement on the Fourth Amendment. However, it is a very popular doorbell and a data analytics company, Jumpshot says that about 400,000 Ring doorbells were sold in 2019.
Amazon is reportedly in partnership with 1,800 local law enforcement agencies, who allegedly request recorded videos from the company, without a warrant. They reportedly asked for 22,337 videos last year. This information was reported by Lauren Bridges, a PhD student at the University of Pennsylvania.
Bridges said that is a way of circumnavigating the Fourth Amendment which gives citizens the right not to be searched or have items seized from them, without a legal warrant.
Data compiled by Bridges shows:
- Milwaukee made 782 requests for videos from Ring cameras
- Tampa made 606 requests
- Denver made 433 requests
- Broward County Sheriff’s office made 347 requests
- Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department made 317 requests
The California Law Review says that the relationship between the company and law enforcement raises concerns about constitutional questions and civil liberties. The bundling of the Ring doorbell with access to Neighborhood app which allows sharing of footage on social media.
Despite the increasing number of hacks, sales of Amazon’s Ring doorbell are increasing. Boycott calls on its partnership with law enforcement has not affected its sales. Privacy and safety qualms are not considered by customers as they buy the devices in large numbers and it was one of the biggest sellers during Amazon’s huge sale days.
The Electronic Frontier Foundation has asked Ring to end its agreement with law enforcement agencies. It is a nonprofit that is involved in “defending civil liberties in the digital world.” Activists and nonprofits fear that the easy access and permanently storing these videos may lead to police brutality. There is also a possibility of racial profiling while using the Neighborhood app.
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