Amazon’s Ring to partner with Flock, a network of AI cameras used by ICE, feds, and police

In Brief

Amazon’s surveillance camera shaper Ring announced a concern connected Thursday with Flock, a shaper of AI-powered surveillance cameras that stock footage with instrumentality enforcement.

Now, agencies that usage Flock tin petition that Ring doorbell users share footage to assistance with “evidence postulation and investigative work.”

Flock cameras enactment by scanning the licence plates and different identifying accusation astir cars they see. Flock’s authorities and constabulary customers tin besides marque earthy connection searches of their video footage to find radical who lucifer circumstantial descriptions. However, AI-powered exertion utilized by instrumentality enforcement has been proven to exacerbate racial biases.

On the aforesaid time that Ring announced this partnership, 404 Media reported that ICE, the Secret Service, and the Navy had entree to Flock’s web of cameras. By partnering with Ring, Flock could perchance entree footage from millions much cameras.

Ring has agelong had a poor way record with keeping customers’ videos safe and secure. In 2023, the FTC ordered the institution to wage $5.8 cardinal implicit claims that employees and contractors had unrestricted entree to customers’ videos for years.

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