Phoenix and 11 other Arizona police departments are among more than 400 in the U.S. that have partnered with video-doorbell maker Ring to connect authorities with local homeowners who use the company’s technology.
Some privacy advocates have raised concerns that the program could give police “access to essentially a networked” closed-circuit TV of communities.
But police agencies and the company insist that safeguards are in place and that the program does not give authorities unfettered access to user video.
They say it can be a tool for keeping communities safe – both by alerting Ring owners to crimes and soliciting their help in solving them.
