Ringtone partnerships raise confidentiality issues

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MADISON, Wisconsin – Dan Thompson started using a ringing bell at his home in Madison when his wife opened a home-care business a few years ago. The software engineer has always been a fan of high tech gadgets for the home, but it also seemed to have a purpose.

"Not that I think I'm in a risky area or whatever, but it's peace of mind," Thompson said. "It's pretty neat to know when something is happening in front of me."

He had bought this device before Amazon bought Ring in 2018. Thompson said that he had found that the situation had begun to change after the online sales giant had added the app Ring Neighbors to customers after the acquisition. The application basically gives users the opportunity to join a social network with other Ring users, where they can share content.

"I did not know where they were going with that," Thompson said. "But then it became quite clear that Ring was trying to become a kind of neighborhood social watch."

In recent months, a number of law enforcement agencies in Wisconsin have seen just how useful enforcement can be for dealing with residential crime. Many partners have partnered with Ring to use the Neighbors app, giving agencies access to a surveillance network at the doors of residents across the country. The partnerships have allowed the country's legal experts and privacy advocates to be concerned that Big Brother is monitoring them too closely.

Dan Thompson has taken notice.

"For them to have unlimited access, that would be crazy," said Thompson, who began reading erroneous articles from across the country that said the police could get any video footage, which was shared on the Neighbors app. "But when I was researching these articles, I made sure that the only time Ring would share my video, that's when I can, or if they have the legal obligation to provide to an agency through a legal order. "

Dane County Sheriff Dave Mahoney said residents should not worry about the use of their bells by his agency, and described it as a simple tool to help keep the door open. ensure the safety of residents and free neighborhoods from crime.

"Our main goal is to create a partnership with community members who have access to this type of data in the hope of solving the crimes that have victimized these people or their neighbors," said Mahoney.

He added that the Dane County Sheriff's Office will never push a client to share his video if he does not feel comfortable doing it.

"I do not foresee a case in which an owner would not want us to have access to his video, that we would try to get around it," Mahoney said.

In recent months, the Beloit Police Department has joined the Dane County Sheriff's Office and the Green Bay, DePere, and Milwaukee Police Departments have all started to partner with Ring to strengthen their network. monitoring. The network currently has about 400 law enforcement agencies.

Madison Police spokeswoman Joel DeSpain told News 3 that the department is joining the program, although the partnership is not yet operational.

"We found that video from a variety of sources was an important tool for keeping our community safe," said DeSpain. "Having an identified group of owners with Ring technology – anyone who wants to work with the police to make Madison even safer – is a win-win."

For Dan Thompson, the little peace of mind that reigns at his door goes a long way.

"Anyway, they would not see much excitement around my house," Thompson said. "I do not want to give up all my privacy, but knowing that I can control what's going on, for me the peace of mind is worth it."