Amazon has been hit with a class-action lawsuit alleging privacy violations linked to the facial-recognition capabilities of its Ring smart doorbell cameras.

The case was filed in Seattle by a Virginia resident who claims the technology collects and stores facial data without the consent of individuals captured by the cameras.

The lawsuit centers on Ring’s “Familiar Faces” feature, which allows users to identify individuals who frequently visit their homes.

Through artificial intelligence, the system can recognize recurring visitors and provide personalized notifications rather than generic alerts.

Although homeowners must voluntarily activate the feature, critics argue that people walking past Ring cameras have not consented to having their facial information analyzed or stored.

Privacy advocates have raised concerns that the technology could create large databases of facial data involving individuals who are unaware they are being scanned.
Consumer rights groups and lawmakers voiced similar concerns when the feature was first announced.

Despite the criticism, Amazon proceeded with the rollout, maintaining that the technology was designed to improve convenience and security for users.

In response to privacy concerns, the company has stated that facial data is encrypted, never shared externally, and automatically deleted after a specified period if an individual remains unidentified. Amazon has not publicly commented on the latest lawsuit.

The legal action comes amid ongoing scrutiny of Ring’s privacy practices. In previous years, the company faced criticism over employee access to customer video footage and its relationships with law enforcement agencies, raising broader questions about surveillance, data protection, and consumer privacy.

Source: TechCrunch