Ring, a smart security company under Amazon, has introduced a new feature called Search Party to assist in locating lost dogs. This feature allows users to post pictures of missing pets through the Ring Neighbors app, whereupon Ring’s system utilizes artificial intelligence to scan footage from nearby Ring outdoor cameras and doorbell devices for sightings of the animal. If the AI detects a matching image, the owner of the camera is alerted and can choose whether to share the relevant footage with the pet owner.
Search Party is activated by default for users, though it can be disabled if desired. Jamie Siminoff, the founder of Ring, mentioned that camera owners can review footage that might relate to the missing pet before sharing it. This feature aims to streamline the search process, potentially providing quicker results than traditional social media appeals.
However, concerns have arisen regarding the default opt-in nature of this feature, particularly in light of the company’s past issues with sharing footage with law enforcement. Users have expressed the need for the ability to control whether their footage is searchable, emphasizing the importance of consent.
Additionally, the feature operates similarly to current AI functionalities within Ring products, which analyze footage for human activity, vehicles, and packages. The recent introduction of a facial recognition feature raises further questions about potential future uses of its technology for identifying individuals, although Ring representatives stated that Search Party is strictly for identifying dogs and not for human biometrics.
Search Party footage will not be included in the existing Community Requests service, which serves as a tool for police and public safety agencies to request information from Ring users. Overall, while the feature could assist in finding lost pets, it raises significant questions about user privacy and consent within the expanding landscape of smart home technology.
Source: https://www.theverge.com/news/790928/ring-search-party-cameras-default-opt-out