"Reduce crime to zero": Ring cameras were never supposed to just find dogs

The "Search Party" function for Ring doorbell cameras, advertised during the Super Bowl and heavily criticized afterward, was not actually intended to be limited to AI-powered searches for lost dogs. This is indicated by an email from Ring CEO Jamie Siminoff, which US tech magazine 404 Media has now made public. As early as the beginning of October, the controversial CEO wrote that with Search Party – "initially for dogs" – the company was laying the foundation for one of the most important technologies, whose impact would go far beyond that: " You can now see a future where we are able to zero out crime in neighborhoods." Ring has already confirmed the authenticity of the text.

"Definitely not about dogs"

With "Search Party", dog owners can report their lost pets and initiate an AI-powered search via all Ring cameras in the neighborhood. If the searched-for animal passes through the field of view of one of these devices, users are supposed to be automatically notified to retrieve it. In the US, the advertisement for it was described as dystopian by many people. 404 Media pointed out that it would not take much imagination to imagine that the function "could be used against suspected criminals, undocumented immigrants, or individuals whom residents deem 'suspicious'." This is precisely what Siminoff's previously written email seems to confirm.

The Verge has since confirmed the authenticity of the email and stated that the company would focus on providing camera owners with "meaningful context about critical events in their neighborhoods." This would allow them to decide whether and how to help their community. Examples given include lost pets and "a nearby fire." However, their response does not mention crime. Instead, it refers to the also controversial "Community Request" function, where law enforcement agencies can request recordings from a specific area.

Ring has often been criticized for such collaborations with law enforcement agencies. These are closely linked to Jamie Siminoff, who founded Ring. Under his leadership, police were first enabled to gain direct access to camera footage. This was scaled back during Siminoff's two-year absence. After his return last year, the U-turn followed. However, since units of the US federal government have apparently been arbitrarily arresting people and using modern surveillance technology for this purpose, the mood in the US has shifted. Ring was acquired by Amazon eight years ago and has been a wholly-owned subsidiary of the online retailer ever since.

(mho)