Amazon's Ring to partner with Flock, a network of AI cameras used by ICE, feds, and police

[highplainsdem]

Source: TechCrunch

Amazon’s surveillance camera maker Ring announced a partnership on Thursday with Flock, a maker of AI-powered surveillance cameras that share footage with law enforcement.

Now, agencies that use Flock can request that Ring doorbell users share footage to help with “evidence collection and investigative work.”

Flock cameras work by scanning the license plates and other identifying information about cars they see. Flock’s government and police customers can also make natural language searches of their video footage to find people who match specific descriptions. However, AI-powered technology used by law enforcement has been proven to exacerbate racial biases.

On the same day that Ring announced this partnership, 404 Media reported that ICE, the Secret Service, and the Navy had access to Flock’s network of cameras. By partnering with Ring, Flock could potentially access footage from millions more cameras.

-snip-

Read more: https://techcrunch.com/2025/10/16/amazons-ring-to-partner-with-flock-a-network-of-ai-cameras-used-by-ice-feds-and-police/

[wcmagumba]

1. Ain't no "Ring" at my house, now or ever....

[50 Shades Of Blue]

3. SAME!

[hlthe2b]

2. So, Ring camera owners have no ability to "opt out?"

( and no, I don't have one, though I have considered it over the years.)

[LtTx]

10. we have Ring but..

We do not save any images. The phone alerts us when someone is at the door, but you have to look at the image quickly. It goes away. So I don't see how they can share footage in our case. Now if you pay Ring's extra fee you do save footage. But husband is IT guy and said NO right away to saving images. We live in a pretty safe area and really only needed the Ring doorbell while I was working from home and he was at an office. No issue now as I retired and he now works from home.

[hlthe2b]

17. Thanks. Good to know.

[progressoid]

4. What the hell. Lets just start using the telescreens from 1984.

[wcmagumba]

5. Big Brother is today, Rump probably wanks off to that movie...

Sorry about the disgusting image...

[BlueKentuckyGirl]

6. No Ring here, BUT

I do have Vivent. If I hear of them partnering with ICE or any other government agency, I will drop them in a heartbeat!

[wcmagumba]

7. Same here, I have a Vimtag brand camera, I can move and zoom with it from my iPhone or Fire tablet...

I do like it...I had an older Wyze brand camera but it quit working with my wifi and Wyze wanted monthly payments to (maybe) update it...So far the Vimtag is working well....

[chia]

8. Wow. No. Thanks for the heads-up.

[GJGCA]

9. Big Brother sees and controls everything. (NT)

[DoBW]

11. i thought it was decision of of Ring users, if agencies request

did I read it wrong?

[QueerDuck]

12. Correct. Ring users must approve the use of their camera footage.

Now, agencies that use Flock can request that Ring doorbell users share footage to help with “evidence collection and investigative work.”

We'll be keeping our Ring cameras and Ring doorbell and Ring alarm system, thank you very much.

[Jughead]

13. Black tape

Over the camera. Now it’s a doorbell again.

[LudwigPastorius]

14. Hey, Bezos.

Grab my clapper and "Ring" this!

[Ollie Garkie]

15. We cant have...

Universal Healthcare, but we can have thiiiiiis. shiiiiiiit, courtesy of the "small government" party. Cute.

[JoseBalow]

16. Nothing on "the cloud" is safe from intrusion or exploitation

I would never store anything online, nor use any service or product that does.

And now they want to come to your home and take what's yours, as they please?

The fascists are here. No right to free speech. No right to privacy. No safety in your own home. Purge your possessions of whatever you don't want falling into their hands, for your own sake and that of your neighbors. It's just a matter of time before there is a knock at your door.

From the linked article...

Ring has long had a poor track record with keeping customers’ videos safe and secure. In 2023, the FTC ordered the company to pay $5.8 million over claims that employees and contractors had unrestricted access to customers’ videos for years.