Amazon is helping police build a surveillance network with Ring doorbells

[crazytown]

cnet, June 5, 2019
https://www.cnet.com/features/amazons-helping-police-build-a-surveillance-network-with-ring-doorbells/

Amazon's helping police build a surveillance network with Ring doorbells

If you're walking in Bloomfield, New Jersey, there's a good chance you're being recorded. But it's not a corporate office or warehouse security camera capturing the footage -- it's likely a Ring doorbell made by Amazon.

While residential neighborhoods aren't usually lined with security cameras, the smart doorbell's popularity has essentially created private surveillance networks powered by Amazon and promoted by police departments.

Police departments across the country, from major cities like Houston to towns with fewer than 30,000 people, have offered free or discounted Ring doorbells to citizens, sometime using taxpayer funds to pay for Amazon's products. While Ring owners are supposed to have a choice on providing police footage, in some giveaways, police require recipients to turn over footage when requested.

(snip)"Our township is now entirely covered by cameras," said Captain Vincent Kerney, detective bureau commander of the Bloomfield Police Department. "Every area of town we have, there are some Ring cameras."

[MineralMan]

1. The Videoing of America Is Happening Apace.

Soon, whatever happens will be recorded. We can only hope that this capability will not be abused by the government. We can only hope really, really hard.

[matt819]

2. This is one of those "on the one hand, on the other hand" issues

Who doesn't love it in police procedurals - tv, movie, and books - when the cops retrieve video of the perp. Of course, it's always a hoot when they take a grainy image, blow it up, and then say abracadabra and it's crystal clear. Anyway, the cops catch the bad guy. Yay!

But then there's this network of video cameras that an upload fantastic amounts of data that will undoubtedly be used mostly by corporations to refine facial recognition systems for purposes that may very well go far beyond more or less legitimate law enforcement purposes. Sure, I have nothing to worry about because I've done nothing wrong, but still. It makes me uncomfortable.

Also, what kind of stuff is being captured that ought not to be captured?

In any case, no ring doorbell for me.

[Tipperary]

4. I think it was a neighbor's ring camera that scuppered Chris Watts.

Everything was recorded.

[Blue_true]

11. I don't share your concern.

What can happen that should not be recorded? Two married neighbors having an affair, a teen slipping out with his or her flame against mommy's and daddy's wishes. Otherwise they record a bunch of mundane stuff until a crime happens in a neighborhood.

[WhiskeyGrinder]

3. FTP and privatized surveilance alike.

[comradebillyboy]

5. I don't like burglers, thieves and vandals. I'm all for doing

what can be done to arrest and prosecute them.

[Blue_true]

12. I am pretty much where you are.

Law abiding people should have nothing to fear.

[lpbk2713]

6. My son paid something like $120 for his.

He really likes it. If I can get one for free or at a good discount I'll do it.

[emmaverybo]

7. Good. I don't know that they deter, but they do lead to arrests of not only thieves, but violent

criminals. Good enough for European cities.

[Duppers]

9. 3 decades ago we lived in Cambridge, UK

Security cameras were everywhere and I loved them. I felt safe going to the laundromat at 2am by myself and I did, several times. Yes, I'll gladly give up some privacy for security.

[mbusby]

8. We use...

...the Nest Hello doorbell camera. Signed up once a month for up to 7 days of revolving coverage saved. We are notified on our cell phones if the camera is triggered.

[Blue_true]

10. Everywhere I go I am not thinking about doing a crime. So I don't give a crap about who or what is

watching me.