Amazon's Ring sued over facial recognition feature, latest privacy concern for doorbell maker
Summary
A Virginia resident has filed a class-action lawsuit against Amazon, alleging that the company's Ring doorbell cameras, specifically the "Familiar Faces" feature, collect and store facial recognition data of passersby without their consent. The plaintiff, Charles Sigwalt, is seeking at least $5 million in damages. The lawsuit highlights ongoing privacy concerns surrounding Ring's technology and its partnerships. This legal action follows a series of controversies for Ring, including a Super Bowl advertisement that sparked backlash over neighborhood surveillance, a partnership with Flock Safety that was ended due to criticism, and a $5.8 million settlement with the U.S. Federal Trade Commission in 2023 regarding privacy violations. Senator Ed Markey also alleged in 2022 that Ring violated privacy through its partnerships with law enforcement.
(Source:The Economic Times)