Controversy

In 2018, Amazon closed one of its many seemingly foolproof investments: Ring, a startup that markets surveillance cameras that allow shoppers to see what's going on inside and outside the home in real time. Its flagship product, a video surveillance doorbell that is installed at the door of each house, costs less than 200 euros and offers continuous streaming of the entry threshold, which is open only to each user. A priori, the perfect security tool. You know what is happening in your home at all times, wherever you are.

• The problem: It turns out that several journalistic investigations had been going on for months with a disturbing lead: Ring had formalized cooperation agreements with hundreds of police departments in the United States. In other words, thanks to the application, the police commanders, always without judicial authorization, could see what was happening inside the house and especially outside, on the street. Today Ring made their collaborations public. The result: more than 400 police stations in the country can spy on what's going on in their users' homes.
• The conditions, Ring explains, are very specific: "Law enforcement can only send requests to users in a certain area when they are investigating an active case. Ring facilitates these requests and users' consent is required to share any recordings or information. Otherwise In short, it's a three-step process: the police contact Ring for a specific matter; Ring with the user; and the user gives their consent.
• It is a win for both parties. The former manage to enter the market with the stamp of trust given by the police; the latter gain one more surveillance tool in the neighborhoods.
• Money: Promotions are explicit and implicit. For example, some police stations in the country have received free Ring devices to distribute among the population. Departments offer juicy discounts or contests to win a camera. The conditions of cooperation between the two parties are strict, and are set by Ring: police officers often have to mention the application under conditions specifically set by their press office, and they are obliged to promote its use among the public.