Image Source: Wikimedia Commons
Ring cameras have exploded in popularity as home security devices in recent years. These devices offer peace of mind for people because they provide monitoring of their front door 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Have you ever wondered how much your Ring camera might know about you? Each of these cameras has motion sensors, so it often catches a lot of your movement, as well as the movements of others, around your home. Here are five things your Ring camera knows about you and what you can do to better protect your privacy.
1. Your Daily Routine
Your Ring camera quickly learns your daily routine based on when you come and go from your house. Leaving for work, taking out the trash, returning home, everything you do is tracked by your doorbell camera. It takes note of the time and frequency of these movements as well. Over time, it can create a detailed record of your daily life, including when your home is empty each day.
What makes this slightly alarming is that this data isn’t just stored locally. It can also be accessed via the Ring app and even potentially shared with third parties. If you are concerned about this, be sure to thoroughly read any privacy agreements and double-check your settings.
2. Your Visitors and Deliveries
This is typically the reason people buy a Ring camera. You want to be able to see if anyone visits your home while you’re away. For online shoppers, it’s also nice to be notified if your packages have been delivered. Whether it’s a friend stopping by, a neighbor borrowing something, or a delivery driver dropping off packages, every visitor is logged and time-stamped by the Ring system.
While this footage can be helpful in monitoring who has access to your property, it can also mean that third parties have details about your social life. In neighborhoods with Ring’s Neighbors app integration, footage of your visitors can even be shared with others in your community. This may enhance safety, but it also raises concerns about consent and surveillance. Again, if this is something that concerns you, you should be diligent about reading any privacy agreements and know exactly where your footage can be accessed.
3. Your Conversations
Image Source: Wikimedia Commons
Ring cameras also pick up audio. So, if you’ve ever had a chat near your front door or you’ve been on the phone on the front porch, it was probably recorded. Depending on what your discussion entailed, these recordings could include personal details and even sensitive information about your household.
In some cases, the data pulled from your recordings can be used to improve voice recognition features. Law enforcement has also tapped into Ring camera recordings more recently to assist with investigations. In 2022, Ring provided police with 11 video recordings without the consent of the user. That same year, the company settled a lawsuit with the Federal Trade Commission to the tune of $5.8 million for allowing employees and contractors to access user videos and having inadequate security practices. So, let’s just say… what happens on the front porch doesn’t necessarily stay there.
4. Your Home’s Security Vulnerabilities
Your Ring camera is always on, constantly monitoring your property. While this is generally a good thing, it also reveals your home’s security vulnerabilities. If there are poorly lit entrances, unlocked gates, or open windows in your home, the Ring system is likely aware of it.
Hackers or unauthorized users who gain access to your camera could potentially find ways to exploit these vulnerabilities. They will also have information about your daily routine, making it easy for them to show up when you’re not home. Ring’s partnerships with law enforcement have also raised concerns among users. As mentioned above, they have released video footage to police on a number of occasions. You want a Ring camera to keep tabs on your property, not to have surveillance run on you. Staying vigilant about your camera’s security settings is essential to keep this information safe.
5. Your Neighborhood Activity
There have been plenty of videos that have gone viral thanks to Ring cameras. Oftentimes, it includes activity in the surrounding neighborhood, not just on the front porch. It picks up cars passing by and kids playing outside. In the case of Jenelle Evans from MTV’s Teen Mom, a neighbor’s Ring camera caught a domestic violence situation between her son and husband. Of course, this footage can be useful for community safety and can even help identify suspicious behavior.
You should keep in mind that your camera could be recording individuals without their knowledge or consent though. Privacy advocates have argued that this creates a “surveillance culture.” You may want to consider how to best balance privacy and security.
How Much Does Your Ring Camera Really Know?
If you have a Ring camera, you know by now that it is more than just a security device. It can provide some key insights into your daily life, picking up on habits, conversations, and even the lives of the people around you. There are certainly benefits to having a Ring system, but there are important discussions being had about privacy and data security when it comes to Ring as well. To protect yourself, regularly update your camera’s security settings, be mindful of what it records, and stay informed about how your data is used. In a world where surveillance is becoming the norm, having knowledge of what you are sharing is crucial. After all, your Ring camera might know more about you than you think.
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Drew Blankenship is a former Porsche technician who writes and develops content full-time. He lives in North Carolina, where he enjoys spending time with his wife and two children. While Drew no longer gets his hands dirty modifying Porsches, he still loves motorsport and avidly watches Formula 1.