In the USA, Ring, connected doorbell from Amazon, allows the police to access the recorded images

Ring would already be partnering with at least 200 police stations across the United States. 

This partnership should make it easier for law enforcement to access the images recorded by the camera.

No more warrants to access images

While the start-up was bought last year by Amazon, it now has multiple partnerships with the US police. 

Initially, Ring aimed to help individuals to receive their parcels, giving them a certain sense of security. 

It is in this context that the giant e-commerce has agreements with US police. 

Thanks to the information obtained by Motherboard, we learn that the partnership implies that, subject to the prior consent of the owners, the police can access the images recorded by the connected bells., in case of incidents nearby. For this, agents no longer need a mandate, but only a request for access to images from users - and the agreement of the latter. 

Some agreements also imply that the police promote ring connected bells. The more ring bells sold through this channel, the more agents will earn credits, allowing them to get the products for free. 

This initiative, supported by Ring and Amazon, is, of course, an asset for both companies, which extend both their anchor in the field of surveillance and their promotion to potential buyers.

We're Partnering with Ring and Their Neighbors App

To download the app, text tulsaok to 555888

Orhttps://t.co/Fv2UAcYLIV

Or

Apple Devices https://t.co/wbu9SWVL1e
Android Devices https://t.co/mahiOcNSqS
(Sorry no Blackberry support, now or ever) pic.twitter.com/qC8eNFzTbF

— Tulsa Police (@TulsaPolice) July 23, 2019

Failures are brought to light

If these connected bells turn out to be useful for some people, they can also be a nuisance for others. 

Indeed, a Ring Bell sometimes signals a pedestrian who passes in front of the house or even a car that circulates nearby. These "threats" are reported to the police when they are in fact false alerts. This can create a feeling of insecurity and paranoia among residents who, faced with many alerts, may fuel a climate of apprehension in their neighborhood.

In addition, Motherboard states that through the Neighbors App, associated with the Ring Bell, individuals can report suspicious cross people in the neighborhood. But a study of publications shows that people notified as suspects are mostly people of color finally reported wrong.