Amazon handed Ring footage to police without user consent

A Ring doorbell camera is seen installed outside a home in Wolcott, Conn., on July 16, 2019. Amazon has provided Ring doorbell footage to law enforcement 11 times this year without the user’s permission, a revelation that’s bound to raise more privacy and civil liberty concerns about its video-sharing agreements with police departments across the country. The disclosure came in a letter from the company that was made public Wednesday, July 13, 2022, by U.S. Sen. Edward Markey, D-Mass. (AP Photo/Jessica Hill, File)

Amazon has provided Ring doorbell footage to law enforcement 11 times this year without the user’s permission, a revelation that’s bound to raise more privacy and civil liberty concerns about its video-sharing agreements with police departments across the country.

The disclosure came in a letter from the company that was made public Wednesday by U.S. Sen. Edward Markey, a Massachusetts Democrat who sent a separate letter to Amazon last month questioning Ring’s surveillance practices and engagement with law enforcement.

Ring has said before it will not share customer information with police without consent, a warrant or due to “an exigent or emergency” circumstance.