• News Tech Amazon After Search Party backlash, Ring is still avoiding the bigger questions Maps are not the problem. • Maps are not the problem. • Link Share Gift If you buy something from a Verge link, Vox Media may earn a commission.See our ethics statement. • Ring founder Jamie Siminoff has been on an “explanation tour,” asThe New York Timesputs it, following the fallout from itsSuper Bowl ad and the introduction of its Search Party feature. • Inan interview withThe Timesthis week, Siminoff explained that he understands people’s concerns and that “maybe people were ’triggered’ by an image in the ad that showed blue rings radiating out from suburban homes. • There will be fewer maps in any future ads, he said.” Related Amazon Ring’s lost dog ad sparks backlash amid fears of mass surveillance Ring’s new Search Party feature is on by default; should you opt out?
Article Summaries:
- Ring founder Jamie Siminoff has embarked on an “explanation tour” after backlash over the company’s Super Bowl ad and its new Search Party feature. He acknowledges that the ad’s imagery may have triggered concerns and promises fewer maps in future ads, but he maintains that Ring’s cameras are not a mass‑surveillance tool. Siminoff stresses user control over footage and cites cases where video helped solve crimes. However, critics note that Search Party is enabled by default and that people captured by cameras cannot opt out. Ring has dropped its partnership with Flock Safety but keeps its Community Requests tool and a tie‑in with law‑enforcement firm Axon, leaving many privacy questions unresolved.
Sources: