Amazon has cancelled its plan to partner with Flock Safety on its Ring doorbell cameras, the companies announced on Thursday. This decision comes shortly after Amazon aired an ad for Ring that many people felt raised privacy concerns.
In October, Amazon and Flock announced a deal that would let Ring users share video from their doorbell cameras with police through a feature called Community Requests. However, this feature never launched.
Recent criticism followed a Super Bowl ad for Ring. The ad introduced a similar feature called Search Party, which allows users to share videos to help find lost dogs. Many people expressed worries that Ring cameras could also be used to track individuals when linked with facial recognition technology. This program was different from the planned Flock partnership.
Senator Ed Markey from Massachusetts wrote to Amazon, calling the technology “creepy.” Both companies later confirmed the cancellation of their partnership and said it was a mutual decision. An Amazon representative explained that the integration would take more time and resources than expected.
Flock stated on its website that no videos were ever shared and that the decision was best for both companies. Flock is known for its extensive network of license plate reader cameras across the US, which track cars in real time. Some cities have stopped their contracts with Flock due to concerns over privacy.
Currently, about 27% of American households use doorbell cameras, according to Parks Associates. Ring remains the most popular brand. Amazon still partners with Axon, another police surveillance company, for its Community Requests feature.
Vocabulary List:
- Cancellation /ˌkæn.səlˈeɪ.ʃən/ (noun): The act of calling off or postponing an event.
- Concerns /kənˈsɜrnz/ (noun): Worries or anxieties about something specific.
- Integration /ˌɪn.tɪˈɡreɪ.ʃən/ (noun): The process of combining or coordinating different components into a single system.
- Criticism /ˈkrɪt.ɪ.sɪ.zəm/ (noun): The expression of disapproval of someone or something based on perceived faults or mistakes.
- Privacy /ˈprɪv.ə.si/ (noun): The state of being free from public attention or unsanctioned intrusion.
- Surveillance /sɜrˈveɪ.ləns/ (noun): Close observation especially of a suspected spy or criminal.
