I installed a Ring doorbell by my front door. In fact, I have cameras all around my house. I’m not worried about burglars, I’m worried about vigilantes. Because I’m a person required to register as a sex offender, I’m particularly vulnerable to vigilantism. I’m susceptible to anyone, at any time, bringing a false allegation against me because they don’t want me in their neighborhood. I don’t have these cameras because I want to catch someone else, that’s a secondary thought for me. I have these cameras because I want to exonerate myself.
I reconsidered my decision to use Ring when I read a story in today’s Washington Post, “Doorbell-camera firm Ring has partnered with 400 police forces, extending surveillance reach”
Ring, the Amazon video doorbell, has apparently partnered with 400 law enforcement agencies to give them access to the recordings from personal Ring cameras. It makes me sick to my stomach.
I know I’m not doing anything wrong, so why should I worry, right? Well registration laws change ever year. I live in constant fear that a new rule was passed that I’m not aware of or I’m interpreting one of these confusing statutes in a way that one police officer might not interpret it. Even if I’m ultimately correct, I’ll likely sit in jail for months until a judge makes their own interpretation and an arrest, ANY arrest, could potentially jeopardize my chance at removal.
Recently, the Georgia Supreme Court ruled that GPS monitoring of people no longer on probation was an unreasonable search and seizure. How can providing police access to a video camera facing my front door not be the same?!?! The fact that it’s MY CAMERA adds insult to injury!
Currently, the article states, that Ring users have some element of control over whether their Ring footage is shared with law enforcement, but I’m not sure I really trust that.
When setting up my home security system, I immediately removed Ring from the list of equipment candidates because of this reason. Like many on here, my personal experience with law enforcement is nothing shy of horrible. They lied on the arrest warrant and in the charges. My lawyer told me what they were doing and even what they would say when he filed an amended discovery request, and they did exactly that. They lied to me, my wife, the judge, and my lawyer when they didn’t need to. So what makes me think they have my best interest at heart when taking my front door video?
I do have to admit, with the exception of 1 officer years ago, the local sheriffs so far have been nice and have treated me and my wife with respect, and have done none of the things the FDLE did. But I never let my guard down.
When you read this article, use the map to zoom in on your area. As usual, Floriduh is well represented in spying on its citizens.
Also read the comments to see how delusional the general public is about the reality of living in the police state called Amerikkka. Unless impacted by “law enforcement,” the mindless herd thinks all police are heroes and the USA has the fairest justice system in the world. Nothing is farther from the truth.
Never forget, the goal of a police state is to have all its citizens in a criminal database to have a ready supply of “suspects,” “persons of interest,” and “perps” to feed into the prison industrial complex.
Our system of mass incarceration with no rehabilitation, is nothing short of a system of gulags. 2019 Amerikkka makes George Orwell’s 1984 look like post WWII America.
In Illinois, it is illegal to take any type of picture or video of a minor without parental permission. If you install a Ring doorbell, are committing a felony. The first RSO in Illinois charged with this charge is serving a three year sentence because he was playing “air-soft” at a giant paintball range. He was using his GoPro camera and had it on as he walked out to the range where a father and his two teenage sons, age 13 and 15 were at the desk signing the insurance waivers. The charge is: child photography by a sex offender, a Class 2 felony.
I have an alarm, camera and it is nice to have. I have had it for years and never a problem. It does work as a deterrent for most people. I also like the camera recording what happens around my home. This way if I ever have to give out free dental extractions for people trying to hurt me and my family it’s all recorded. 💪
As far as law enforcement using my camera? That’s a no go..
I too have security cameras, door bell to phone notifications, and an alarm system. I have had my widows shot out, my house broken into, and other things done to my property. Additionally I also like the fact it keeps a record of the time I come and go so if someone said I did something at a certain time, my camera shows my vehicle sitting in the driveway and when I come and go. Since getting the system in 2014, I have had zero issues. I also have numerous signs and stickers plus no trespassing signs. It is worth the peace of mind.
What system do you use?
I use digital life wich is sold by AT&T.. it’s a wireless system that works on a cellular signal.
I was using a Canadian company but they sold their US customers to another company in the U.S. They allowed me to keep the equipment since I was out of contract and I refused to become a customer of the other company because they wanted me to sign another contract. I have to do all my own maintenance. I change all the batteries every 2 years and costs me about $38 for them. I pay $34 a month to keep the equipment active