Ring has announced a new “Search Party” feature that could eventually bring mass biometric surveillance to our streets.

[nazokiyoubinbou@mastodon.social]

@eff Thankfully I already disabled this "feature" (it's two parts. I see one for fires and one for pets.) I also enabled video encryption for whatever good that does. (Supposedly makes it harder for them to share? Yeah, I don't particularly trust it, but if that is what it takes...)

God I wish I could just get rid of the thing, but I have $1 in my wallet right now... (And yes, I need video.)

[faduda@mastodon.ie]

@Parkersavage @kevinrns @eff

Guys, there comes a point when you need to kill it with hammers.

[rowinspeez@mas.to]

@eff STOP USING RING ALTOGETHER, holy shit it's easy you guys.

[donhawkins@mastodon.social]

@eff @wb2ifs “Shut it off”!? How about never buy their crap to begin with … & if you already made that mistake tear the thing out & ask for a refund.

[juneussell@mas.to]

@eff How about … just not have one? You’re already into surveillance if you do.

[ferricoxide@blahaj.zone]

@eff@mastodon.social

Also, just because you opt out, should we have any confidence that they aren't still using your camera for these purposes? Do we really think they'll be satisfied leaving holes in their surveillance nets when they can just silently closing those holes? I mean, they were supposed to get owners' consent before sharing with police, but that seemed to be done with a wink and a nod. I imagine the Flock arrangement will show owners' preferences being similarly bypassesd.

[richspk@tech.lgbt]

@eff I wouldn't touch Ring cameras with a ten foot pole, but I'm still subject to surveillance by my neighbor's Ring cameras.

[inurwalls@mastodon.social]

@eff oh boy the future is bright!

[thamunsta@mastodon.nervesocket.com]

@eva @eff yeah my first thought was uhh hey Ring, read the room...
I've edited a version of their ad to show what I saw...

[kryten@veganism.social]

@eff are there any recommended alternatives to ring?

[prokyonid@mastodon.sdf.org]

@eff
https://www.hamiltonnolan.com/p/remove-your-ring-camera-with-a-claw?utm_source=post-email-title&publication_id=1536173&post_id=187505604

[eric@geldmacher.io]

@eff

An alternate method to disable the feature.

[kevinrns@mstdn.social]

@eff

Reddit is PISSED and theyre organising Ring Camera mass returns to Amazon

Ring camera fascism.

#ring #Nazi #ice #surveillance

[rayocentric@mastodon.social]

@eff
Amazon has been in the surveillance and data collection and data mining game for most of its years.

They even tried to buy Roomba, which exists to send 3d images of your floor plan back to h.q. under the guise of cleaning.

IOT was never about our convenience. It was always about surveillance.

Do people really not know these things or are they waiting for the bandwagon to feel some kind of way?

None of this is new.
#surveillance #ring #amazon

[rrhett@mastodon.online]

@eff better, just get rid of ring entirely

[bolomkxxviii@mastodon.social]

@faduda @Parkersavage @kevinrns @eff THIS!!!

[bolomkxxviii@mastodon.social]

@kryten @eff An old fashioned doorbell.

[gbargoud@masto.nyc]

@eff @nazokiyoubinbou

Don't take my word for it because if it doesn't work you'll be in a bad place but I've seen some people on reddit getting full refunds after claiming that the changed ToS means that this is no longer the device they bought or something like that.

If you can do that and use the money for a Eufy one or another system that works locally that could be a good idea (although that is a big if)

[gbargoud@masto.nyc]

@eff @rayocentric

They tried to buy roomba but the EU started asking too many questions about the deal and they abandoned it, another point for strong antitrust regulations

[rayocentric@mastodon.social]

@gbargoud Thanks for keeping me honest. Last I heard, it was a done deal... but that was awhile ago.

In any case, we all know a little bit more about Roomba. Thanks again, though.