I realise this is potentially disproportionately more concerning right now for folks in US but am wondering at how many HOs are aware of this partnership and the impact it will have on communities.
Obviously home surveillance and security is a hot topic on here, but sharing this as the free movement of personal data is actually a very serious matter.
I personally always opt out of using any listening devices on sits and acknowledge everyone feels differently
@Oztravels Ring has partnered with a company called flock. They are using video surveillance software claiming to help people find dogs that are missing in the neighbourhood. In reality, they’re capturing facial recognition data to be able to identify and track down people. This means that in the United States the government can take advantage of rings data base to find individuals as Flock allows the government access to their network.
This means that anyone with a ring device is potentially unknowingly collecting video surveillance data can that can then be used against the general public in the US.
The advertising point is making neighbourhoods safer, enabling pet owners to find their missing pets, etc. But ultimately, it’s effectively introducing video surveillance through personal devices that collect data and can then be used with very little restriction based on how ring, flock, and anyone they partner with deem fit. It’s very questionable from a data protection standpoint.
(Link removed as access requires a paid subscription)
Whoa, sunglasses and face masks (as seen on security for the Israeli President in Australia yesterday) will be the new fashion when ringing doorbells soon
I heard this discussed on a recent BBC program -also Ring’s new “Familiar Faces” feature (rolling out late 2025/early 2026) which uses AI-powered facial recognition on 2K/4K cameras to identify, tag, and name frequent visitors like family and friends. It provides personalised notifications (e.g., “Pet sitter is at the door”) and allows customised alerts.
Right, which means your facial recognition data is now logged in their database and available to be leveraged.
I honestly don’t think people realise how dangerous this is from a security perspective especially given how many device security protocols depend on your likeness alone for access.
An added concern is that Flock is pairing the facial scan data with software that scans license plate numbers on public roadways, making it easier for US law enforcement agencies like ICE & CBP to physically track the movement of people they want to find.
That said, the outcry after their recent advertising has now caused Amazon to announce they’re backing away from the deal with Flock. Assuming one can trust them to be true to their word, that’s a good result (at least for the moment).
