Your Amazon's Ring Cameras Might Be Collecting Personal Information | Here's What it Knows About You

Security cameras are almost everywhere since crimes are rampant in some places. You can see them anywhere: in your neighborhood, local coffee shop, bookstore, and other locations.

One of the most popular security cameras comes from Amazon. The Ring doorbell can be used for protection. If you feel someone might harm you, this surveillance is a good start to stay safe against intruders.

However, most people don't know how these cameras collect data. Without you knowing, it might bypass your rights or privacy even as an owner.

Amazon's Ring Cameras Could Invade Your Privacy

Last year, 2021, the UK judge slapped a man with a $137,000 fine after he reportedly used the Amazon Ring Doorbell without his neighbor's consent.

At the time, Tech Times reported that Jon Woodard, the man behind this case, decided to slot in a camera so he could know the identity of the person who wanted to carjack his vehicle.

However, his mistake was not telling his neighbor that he had put a security camera in her backyard. Dr. Mary Fairhurst, the complainant, had grown worried about this since the doorbell camera could record her activities.

All over the internet, Amazon's Ring doorbells stirred a lot of issues among the citizens. Many people on TikTok and other social media platforms believe this equipment has been invading everyone's privacy.

As per Wired, Electronic Frontier Foundation's policy analyst Matthew Guariglia, the ring doorbells "immediately" impact the individuals who usually cross the locations where the cameras are located.

What Your Amazon's Ring Cameras Collect From You

Almost all devices can now collect your personal information. For instance, Facebook relies on your choices' algorithm and the pages you visit. The same case goes with Spotify when it uses your data so you can see different playlists depending on your streaming history.

Of course, Ring can gather some information about you. Before you grow alarmed with this, you will be informed that your details will be shared with Amazon.

As such, you will be sharing your email, phone number, and even your bank account information once you connect your Ring account to your social media account.

In doing so, the e-commerce giant also knows how strong is your Wi-Fi signal and other adjustments you did with your doorbells and cameras.

In 2020, there was a report from BBC that said that Amazon's Ring is storing every action you make with the doorbell. This means that even the slightest movement you make on the camera is detected and kept in the records.

To shatter privacy concerns, Amazon said that its Ring doorbells and cameras might collect data from the users, but they don't sell it to other entities.

Other than that, these items can also store your audio and video records. If you want to view them, you can check the privacy policy of Ring via Ring Protect Plan. This subscription will allow you to take a peek at your activities on camera in the last 180 days.

Amazon Ring Doorbells in Police Operations

On top of that, Amazon has partnered with the police across the US and the UK. As part of the collaboration, they could provide them with data stored in the doorbells and cameras. This would make it easier to identify the criminals caught in the act.

Still, some people do not agree with how Amazon collects the user's data. Somehow, Max Isaacs, a staff attorney, said that it poses a risk where the devices produce a" democratic deficit."

Since the police forces are capable of controlling the surveillance, there's a need to study it further.

"They can have thousands of cameras in a jurisdiction ... without any legislative oversight," Isaacs added.

Meanwhile, The Philadelphia Inquirer reported that Ring will be donating 1,000 smart doorbells and plans to domestic violence victims amid privacy concerns.

This article is owned by Tech Times

Written by Joseph Henry