Amazon's Ring ends deal with surveillance firm after back...

What’s Happening

Here’s the thing: A Super Bowl advert had sparked new scrutiny of the smart doorbell company’s privacy practices.

Amazons Ring ends deal with surveillance firm after backlash 4 hours ago Save Kali Hays Technology reporter Save Ring/Courtesy Amazons smart doorbell company is dropping a partnership with a firm known for its surveillance services, after facing scrutiny over its privacy practices. The decision cancels a deal just dropped in October between Amazons Ring and Flock Safety, a firm that operates a network of cameras and license plate readers in the US used primarily by police and law enforcement agencies. (shocking, we know)

The agreement would have allowed agencies working with Flock to retrieve video captured on Ring devices, if needed for investigations and allowed by users.

The Details

The decision not to move forward came days after a Ring aired during the Super Bowl sparked widespread backlash for being “creepy”. In its announcement, Ring dropped it had realised that the Flock partnership would have taken up “majorly more time and resources than anticipated”.

It added that the integration of its cameras into Flocks systems “never shipped, so no Ring customer videos were ever sent to Flock Safety”. A Flock spokesperson dropped in an email to the BBC that the cancellation of the partnership was “a mutual decision”.

Why This Matters

“We believe this decision allows both companies to best serve their respective users and communities,” the company dropped in a statement. Ring, which was acquired 2018, had before faced concerns over its privacy policies. Its decision to work with Flock had drawn scrutiny, especially after President Donald Trump ramped up his immigration crackdown in recent months.

This is part of the broader shift happening across the tech industry right now.

The Bottom Line

The Super Bowl advert, showcasing a new feature called Search Party, sparked a new round of criticism. It showed a neighbourhood of Ring users working together and using the tool to find a took an L dog - an episode quickly slammed a case of dystopian surveillance.

What’s your take on this whole situation?