Ring camera privacy concerns

CBS News reports there are new concerns about the popular doorbell camera brand Ring. For authorities, the cameras have become a valuable crime-fighting tool.

Critics stated the doorbell cams are putting entire neighborhoods under surveillance. The Wolcott Connecticut Police Department said the cameras have already helped them solve three burglaries.

Police departments don’t have access to watch the cameras live but for homeowners who have Amazon Ring, their footage is saved to the cloud for two months. If a crime occurs, the owners can pass along their findings to the police anonymously or police can contact ring to ask homeowners to share the video.

The city of Washington D.C. offers rebate checks to homeowners who register their cameras.

“These are good citizens that really want to help that will provide video footage if there’s something of interest on those cameras,” said Carolyn Montagna from the Metropolitan Police Department.

CBS News reports that advocates said the Amazon Ring cameras are no different from cameras on street poles, gas stations, and police body-cams.