A Virginia resident has filed a lawsuit against Amazon, alleging that its Ring doorbell cameras, equipped with facial recognition technology, have been collecting and storing images of his own face without consent from his friends and family's properties.
A Virginia resident has filed a lawsuit against Amazon, claiming that its Ring doorbell cameras have been collecting and storing images of his face through facial recognition technology without his consent.
Related ↗British companies halt recruitment amid Iran conflict impact, REC research indicates.Charles Sigwalt, the plaintiff behind a proposed class-action lawsuit, has filed a complaint against Amazon in Seattle's federal court, claiming the company's "Familiar Faces" feature stores images of individuals who pass by without their permission or consent. The suit seeks $5 million in damages for those affected.
Optional features like Familiar Faces leverage AI to recognize individuals, enabling personalized notifications upon their return to homes or businesses with their name included.
Read next ↗Tate & Lyle accepts a £2.7 billion all-cash acquisition from Ingredion.The plaintiffs claim they were never given permission for their private lives to be exposed at entry points, while millions of others unwittingly had their biometric data captured as they walked past Ring's surveillance cameras.
Amazon has chosen not to provide a statement.
Amazon's Ring is facing another lawsuit over its facial recognition technology, with the complaint seeking compensation for individuals affected by the issue.
Amazon's 2018 acquisition of Ring for $1 billion sparked controversy in February when a promotional service aired during the Super Bowl, touting the use of neighborhood camera networks to locate lost pets. Concerns arose that these cameras could potentially be repurposed for mass surveillance, raising eyebrows among users and privacy advocates alike.
Ring severed ties with Flock Safety in February, ending a collaboration that had been scrutinized by critics of its own facial recognition technology.
The US Federal Trade Commission finalized a $5.8 million settlement with Ring in 2023, resolving claims of egregious privacy breaches, including unauthorized surveillance by a former employee at private residences.
Ring's employees were granted unfettered access to consumers' video footage, enabling them and contract workers to review and save this sensitive information, according to the FTC. Amazon has maintained its innocence in the matter, as per the terms of the agreement reached.
Senator Ed Markey of the U.S. Democrats claimed in 2022 that Ring's collaborations with law enforcement enabled unauthorized access to user videos without adequate permission from users themselves.
Amazon's conduct has led to a significant breach of privacy for numerous individuals, with millions now subject to tracking through its facial recognition technology.
Amazon Virginia resident has filed a lawsuit against Amazon, claiming that its Ring doorbell cameras have been collecting and storing images of his face through facial recognition technology without his consent.
The US Federal Trade Commission finalized a$5.8 million settlement with Ring in 2023, resolving claims of egregious privacy breaches, including unauthorized surveillance by a former employee at private residences.
Senator Ed Markey of the U.S.Democrats claimed in 2022 that Ring's collaborations with law enforcement enabled unauthorized access to user videos without adequate permission from users themselves.
