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Amazon admits giving police Ring camera footage without consent

theintercept.com

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Re: Amazon admits giving police Ring camera footage without consent

#101

Post by unfocused »

daniel-cussen wrote: post #86
unfocused wrote: post #31

My next door neighbor (we share a wall) had their bicycles stolen twice, so they installed Ring (floodlight) cameras in both the backyard and the front porch. After a year, the cameras have yielded no added security, or caught any "bad guys" as far as I can tell and from what they told me. What I realized, is they use it to keep track of their kids, funny cat videos that trigger the recording, and most importantly, a…

Their crossing the street to avoid you is a confession of having spied on you deliberately. It's their kame-hame-ha of scorn, they have to do it because otherwise you'll see what they've been peeking at, means they're guilty as shit.

Most likely. I certainly didn't bring any of that up, nor will I. I've spoken to this person on a couple of occasions since then for some other matters that were urgent, and they didn't run away. But I'm not going to engage them to talk about the weather. So hopefully they mature and see that they overreacted.

Re: Amazon admits giving police Ring camera footage without consent

#102

Post by jjoonathan »

jrh206 wrote: post #87
techdragon wrote: post #79

Earlier quoted context omitted.

For bonus points they can then point the finger at the local thieves that happily try to identify and then shadow Amazon delivery contractors and steal valuable looking parcels based on whatever gut instinct they have for value based on size/shape/weight of the packages. Amazon proves the delivery and now it’s the local Polive Department’s problem. They are literally selling customers an excuse they can use later aga…

In your example the thieves have nothing to do with Amazon or their drivers. I don’t understand how this could be construed as Amazon selling an excuse for something they’re not responsible for.

Amazon used to get stuck holding the bag. Now they can make the customer hold the bag.

Re: Amazon admits giving police Ring camera footage without consent

#103

Post by chrisBob »

unfocused wrote: post #31

My next door neighbor (we share a wall) had their bicycles stolen twice, so they installed Ring (floodlight) cameras in both the backyard and the front porch. After a year, the cameras have yielded no added security, or caught any "bad guys" as far as I can tell and from what they told me. What I realized, is they use it to keep track of their kids, funny cat videos that trigger the recording, and most importantly, a…

I think you can set up a video camera pretty much anywhere you want, but there are a lot of laws about audio recording. I would check on your state's laws. I don't even think this would be covered by 1-party consent.

Re: Amazon admits giving police Ring camera footage without consent

#104

Post by kyrra »

unfocused wrote: post #31

My next door neighbor (we share a wall) had their bicycles stolen twice, so they installed Ring (floodlight) cameras in both the backyard and the front porch. After a year, the cameras have yielded no added security, or caught any "bad guys" as far as I can tell and from what they told me. What I realized, is they use it to keep track of their kids, funny cat videos that trigger the recording, and most importantly, a…

Depending on your state and country, you may have a legal angle here if you care, see: https://recordinglaw.com/party-two-party-consent-states/

I believe it's the reason Nest defaults to not recording audio, because the law various by state, and even mixed within some states. For 2-party (all-party) states, you can't record audio on security cameras (or at least it's a bad idea, and likely illegal).

Re: Amazon admits giving police Ring camera footage without consent

#105

Post by BurningFrog »

NegativeLatency wrote: post #62
AlwaysRock wrote: post #19

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Sure. What were the emergencies though? Police knew a ring cam had evidence of a murder on it? Or police knew ring cam had some footage of where they dropped their keys last night? Who defines emergency? If its the police then anything they need it for is an emergency.

Also if it’s really an “emergency” then they should be able to use the existing warrant process

Getting a warrant from a judge typically takes a few hours.

It can be faster in emergencies, but in the “cases involving imminent danger of death or serious physical injury to any person” this is about, I don't know that it's practical.

Re: Amazon admits giving police Ring camera footage without consent

#106

Post by unfocused »

MichaelZuo wrote: post #38
unfocused wrote: post #31

My next door neighbor (we share a wall) had their bicycles stolen twice, so they installed Ring (floodlight) cameras in both the backyard and the front porch. After a year, the cameras have yielded no added security, or caught any "bad guys" as far as I can tell and from what they told me. What I realized, is they use it to keep track of their kids, funny cat videos that trigger the recording, and most importantly, a…

If your houses are close together I don't think it's reasonable to have an expectation of privacy on the driveway or front porch. After all sound at normal speaking volume can easily travel 100 feet on a quiet day, if there's nothing in-between.

I really wanted to avoid any legal issues with them. We decided talking/texting is best. My wife is a litigator, and even she didn't want to go there.

If you share a wall with a neighbor, it's always best to try and resolve things through direct communication. Our kids still play together, and they still come over and vice versa.

I made my point, and they actually engaged in helping mitigate my concerns. I certainly can't ask them to remove their camera, so that's why we took this approach. They met us half way, but clearly felt something more when one of them over reacted.

Re: Amazon admits giving police Ring camera footage without consent

#107

Post by dekhn »

unfocused wrote: post #31

My next door neighbor (we share a wall) had their bicycles stolen twice, so they installed Ring (floodlight) cameras in both the backyard and the front porch. After a year, the cameras have yielded no added security, or caught any "bad guys" as far as I can tell and from what they told me. What I realized, is they use it to keep track of their kids, funny cat videos that trigger the recording, and most importantly, a…

The camera may be acting as a deterrent (if they didn't have any additional thefts) without it being obvious.

I never would give a neighbor a hard time about a camera pointing at a publicly visible spot on my property- just into windows and other semi-private locations. That includes both audio and video. I ascribe to the "it's legal for journalists to go through your trash, so if you want privacy, shred your trash first" philosophy.

I added a new camera that includes the school across the street and if the cops come by and ask for footage, I generally provide it (they asked for a breakin across the street, but my camera wasn't pointed there).

One important details is that I buy fairly generic cameras that aren't talking to the outside world/cloud services although it's still a risk.

Re: Amazon admits giving police Ring camera footage without consent

#108

Post by adastra22 »

rdtwo wrote: post #33
seanmcdirmid wrote: post #18

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I guess if you don’t have prowler or package theft problems, they aren’t really necessary. I personally have found my Nest cameras indispensable. Ironically, if police would just do their job on property crime, they wouldn’t be so needed.

What’s the point? Even if you have a great video of a dude stealing your packages nobody will arrest or do anything about it.

I used to have things stolen off my porch frequently. After installing a Ring camera, that ended immediately and never happened again. It did seem to work as a deterrent.

Re: Amazon admits giving police Ring camera footage without consent

#109

Post by wheelie_boy »

RNAlfons wrote: post #29
ensignavenger wrote: post #25

Earlier quoted context omitted.

There are alternative cameras that don't have the same privacy concerns.

Can you recommend some?

The logitech circle view ones are pretty good

Anything the integrates with homekit secure video will be e2e encrypted

Re: Amazon admits giving police Ring camera footage without consent

#110

Post by adastra22 »

2OEH8eoCRo0 wrote: post #28
seanmcdirmid wrote: post #18

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I guess if you don’t have prowler or package theft problems, they aren’t really necessary. I personally have found my Nest cameras indispensable. Ironically, if police would just do their job on property crime, they wouldn’t be so needed.

Where the hell do you all live where this is a common problem? Out of all of my friend and relatives, 100s of people, none of them have ever complained about vandalism/theft.

Currently a huge problem in San Jose, where I suspect a lot of people here post from.
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