Amazon just made a significant move for privacy rights. Ring, an Amazon subsidiary, has announced that it will no longer allow law enforcement agencies to access customers’ footage without a warrant.
This is a substantial departure from how Ring, the leading video doorbell company, has handled these matters. Now, if a law enforcement agency wants to view footage taken by a Ring video doorbell, it will have to cough up a warrant instead of being able to request the footage willy-nilly.
The camera service’s “Request for Assistance” tool is being removed, which allowed police to contact users via the company’s Neighbors app looking for video footage captured by their Ring doorbells.
“Public safety agencies like fire and police departments can still use the Neighbors app to share helpful safety tips, updates, and community events,” said Neighbors general manager Eric Kuhn.
“They will no longer be able to use the RFA tool to request and receive video in the app,” he said.
Ring, which was bought by Amazon in 2015, is most known for its line of video doorbells that allow residents to see individuals at the door. The company also produces video drones, home security systems and indoor cameras.
Law enforcement will still be able to seize and view footage from Ring products if they obtain a warrant.
Those who opposed Ring’s policy argued that it created the potential for violating civil liberties. The fact that police departments were allowed to access the footage without a warrant shows just how slippery the government surveillance slope can get.
Sen. Ed Markey (D-MA) sent a letter previously to Amazon asking about the practice. The company acknowledged providing videos to law enforcement in response to emergency requests, multiple times in 2022.
The broader implications of this development are quite significant. We have already seen that our federal law enforcement agencies are often willing to skirt the Constitution if it means they can spy on Americans without warrants. It is one of the reasons why so many seek to reform the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act (FISA) system.
The bottom line is that if law enforcement wants to access such sensitive information, it should have to go through the process in a way that does not allow it to infringe on people’s rights.
Merrionette Park (Illinois) Police Commander Joe Garrett chimed in on the news during a conversation with CBS News, noting that he was “a little disappointed” by Amazon’s decision because it could make it harder for him to do his job.
It’s a great tool, because it helps us start investigating crimes and issues right away,” said Garrett.
The Merrionette Park Police Department is one of dozens of police agencies in Illinois that teamed up Ring to access video from neighbors. But now, there is a slight about-face.
“Ring is a private company,” said Garrett. “It’s probably worried about lawsuits that come through them through civil suits, and having to pay out money.”
Garrett is right – Amazon is probably concerned about lawsuits. Indeed, it’s surprising that the company hasn’t already been sued for handing over personal information to law enforcement without a warrant or permission.
This story is another reminder of the precarious balance between security and privacy in the digital era. It also raises an important question: Which other companies are handing over your data to law enforcement without your knowledge or even a warrant?
