He obtained the leaked internal email 404 Media shows that Ring has bigger plans for its AI-powered search ability than just looking for lost dogs. The portal reports that an email sent by founder Jamie Siminoff to all Ring employees last October says that with Search Party, “Now you can see a future where we’ll be able to zero crime in neighborhoods.”
The ad, which details how AI can be used to search footage from Ring’s network of cameras, has raised concerns that it could be used as a wider surveillance tool.
In response to earlier inquiries from The VergeRing argued that Search Party is a purpose-built tool that is currently unable to search for people. In addition, the company said sharing any footage from Ring cameras is at the discretion of the camera owner, except in response to legal requests.
An email that Ring confirmed The Verge written by Siminoff, was posted after Search Party launched. Siminoff wrote:
“This is by far the most innovative thing we’ve launched in Ring’s history. And it’s not just about quantity, it’s about quality. I believe that the foundation we’ve created with Search Party, first for search dogs, will eventually become one of the most important technologies and innovations that will really unlock the impact of our mission. Now you can see a future where we’re able to zero crime in neighborhoods. We have so many things we’ve started to do to get there.”
Ring already has AI-powered search tools that a camera owner can use to find their own footage of virtually anything, including people, pets and vehicles. On the other hand, a Search Party can be started by anyone with access to the Ring Neighbors app.
Ring released a statement on the contents of the leaked email. “We’re focused on giving camera owners meaningful context about critical events in their neighborhood — like a lost pet or a nearby fire — so they can decide whether and how to help their community,” said spokeswoman Emma Daniels. “Community requests inform neighbors when local safety authorities ask the community for help. With these features, sharing has always been the camera owner’s choice. Ring provides relevant context about when sharing might be useful – but the decision remains firmly in the hands of the customer, not us.”
The company builds powerful technology that it says is designed for its users. However, the potential privacy impacts of these tools remain very broad. Dogs and forest fires in particular do not cause crime. Which begs the question, what exactly will help Ringo “reset crime”?