Ring (company)
| Company type | Subsidiary |
|---|---|
| Industry | Home security, smart home technology |
| Founded | November 2013 |
| Founder | Jamie Siminoff |
Area served | Worldwide |
Key people | Elizabeth Hamren (CEO), Jamie Siminoff (Chief Inventor) |
| Products | Smart doorbells, home security cameras, alarm systems |
| Parent | Amazon |
Ring LLC manufactures home security and smart home products and operates as a subsidiary of Amazon. Its product portfolio includes Ring smart doorbells, home security cameras, and alarm systems. The company also manages Neighbors, a community platform where users can discuss neighborhood safety and share videos captured by Ring devices. Upon user approval, Ring may supply footage and data to law enforcement agencies to aid criminal investigations.
Established in late 2013 by Jamie Siminoff under the name Doorbot, the company rebranded as Ring in 2014 and began securing venture capital funding. Amazon acquired Ring in 2018 for an estimated $1 billion.
Ring's products have been subject to privacy concerns. Civil rights organizations criticized the Neighbors app for fostering a private surveillance network connected to law enforcement until the 'Request for Assistance (RFA)' feature was terminated in 2024. In 2023, Ring resolved a Federal Trade Commission lawsuit involving privacy breaches by paying $5.8 million. Furthermore, multiple security flaws have been discovered in Ring devices.
Startup Phase (2013–2017)
Ring originated as Doorbot in November 2013, founded by Jamie Siminoff. The startup raised $364,000 through crowdfunding on Christie Street, surpassing its initial $250,000 target. Siminoff characterized the product as an "alarm system literally turned inside out," marketing it as a "pre-crime" security solution. In 2013, Siminoff appeared on Shark Tank seeking $700,000 in exchange for a valuation of $7 million; although investor Kevin O'Leary made an offer, Siminoff declined it. This exposure generated approximately $5 million in additional sales.
On September 26, 2014, the company adopted the name Ring coinciding with the release of its second-generation hardware, aligning more closely with its focus on home security.
In 2016, former NBA star Shaquille O'Neal acquired an equity stake and became a brand ambassador. The company secured over $200 million from investors such as Kleiner Perkins, Qualcomm Ventures, Goldman Sachs, DFJ Growth, and Richard Branson.
In 2017, ADT filed a lawsuit against Ring alleging trade secret misappropriation related to Ring Alarm technology, which led to a preliminary injunction halting sales and culminated in a settlement reportedly near $25 million. With monthly expenditures between $10 and $12 million plus legal costs, Ring required new funding; however, the lawsuit discouraged potential investors, prompting CEO Siminoff to contemplate selling the company quickly.
Despite Amazon's role as both investor and partner, Siminoff openly criticized Amazon’s home security strategy in late 2017.
Internal communications revealed that Amazon initiated due diligence for acquiring Ring in November 2017.
Amazon Subsidiary Era (2018–present)
On April 12, 2018, Amazon completed its acquisition of Ring for roughly $839 million. Although concerns existed internally regarding product quality and security issues, Amazon prioritized Ring’s market position. Emails showed Amazon assessed sales figures prior to purchasing two of the leading wireless home security manufacturers.
In May 2018, Ring introduced the hyperlocal social network Neighbors, allowing users to anonymously discuss community safety and share video clips from their Ring devices. The platform also permits law enforcement agencies to issue bulletins and request user-submitted footage for investigations.
The House Judiciary Committee began probing Amazon’s acquisitions of Ring, Blink, and Eero in September 2019 as part of a wider investigation into digital market competition.
September 2020 saw Amazon launch Amazon Sidewalk, a mesh network that connects IoT devices including Echo speakers; Ring products are integrated within this ecosystem.
In February 2020, the United States House Committee on Oversight and Accountability initiated an inquiry into Ring’s partnerships involving data sharing with local governments and police departments.
Congress issued a report on digital market competition in October 2020 highlighting acquisitions that strengthened Amazon Alexa's dominance in IoT. The report also mentioned Jamie Siminoff’s involvement in acquiring Eero and previewed the upcoming release of the Ring Alarm Pro in 2021, which integrates Eero networking technology with Ring security features.
In April 2021, ADT Inc. filed a trademark infringement suit against Ring over blue octagonal signage resembling ADT’s logo; previously, after a complaint in 2016, Ring had agreed to discontinue use of similar branding.
In September 2022, Amazon-owned MGM Television premiered Ring Nation, a syndicated television show featuring viral clips from smartphones and home security cameras. Although co-branded with Ring, the footage is not exclusive to its devices.
Founder Jamie Siminoff stepped down as CEO in March 2023 to assume the role of "Chief Inventor," succeeded by Elizabeth Hamren, who previously held executive roles at Discord, Oculus, and Xbox.
In May 2023, the Federal Trade Commission reached a settlement with Ring over privacy violations amounting to $5.8 million. The FTC alleged that Ring permitted employees unauthorized access to customer videos and failed to implement sufficient security controls, which allowed hackers to take control of user accounts and cameras. Notably, between June and August 2017, one employee accessed thousands of videos belonging to at least 81 female users.
Ring Video Doorbell
The Ring Video Doorbell stands as the company's premier offering, equipped with a high-resolution camera, motion detection capabilities, and two-way communication through a built-in microphone and speaker. It links to the Neighbors app on mobile devices, enabling users to watch live video feeds, receive alerts, and interact with visitors remotely. This device also serves as a security camera by initiating recordings upon doorbell activation or motion sensing.
Released in 2017, the second-generation Ring Doorbell 2 introduced upgraded components and a 1080p camera with improved performance in low-light conditions, along with enhanced connectivity options surpassing standard Wi-Fi. The Ring Doorbell Pro model integrates seamlessly with Amazon Alexa, allowing for prerecorded greetings and visitor messaging features.
Additional accessories include the "Ring Chime," a plug-in device that emits the doorbell sound, and the "Chime Pro," which acts as a wireless repeater to boost Wi-Fi coverage.
In November 2020, Amazon issued a recall for 350,000 Ring doorbells in the United States and 8,700 units in Canada due to concerns over battery-related fire hazards.
Ring Cameras
The "Stick-Up Cam," introduced by Ring in 2015, is a wireless IP camera that was redesigned in 2018 with a cylindrical form factor. It offers motion sensing, two-way audio communication, and multiple power sources such as battery, wired connection, or solar energy. The 2017 launch of the "Floodlight Cam" combined a video camera with motion-triggered LED floodlights for enhanced outdoor security. Addressing indoor surveillance, the "Ring Indoor Cam" became available in 2019. At CES 2019, Ring revealed a peephole camera model. In 2024, the "Pan-Tilt Indoor Cam" expanded upon the Indoor Cam’s functionality by incorporating 360-degree panning and 169-degree tilting capabilities. Select camera models were upgraded to support 2K video resolution free of charge starting January 2025.
Ring Alarm
Debuted in July 2018, Ring Alarm is a do-it-yourself security system consisting of components such as a keypad, siren, and motion detectors. In September 2021, the company released Ring Alarm Pro, which merges the alarm system with Eero’s networking platform. Although it currently lacks compatibility with Amazon Sidewalk, Ring Alarm Pro is equipped with a 902-928 MHz radio frequency module that hints at possible future integration with Sidewalk technology.
Always Home Camera
In September 2020, Ring launched the "Always Home Cam," an autonomous indoor drone security device programmed to fly along predetermined routes when an alarm sensor is activated.
Automotive security
Also introduced in September 2020 were automotive security solutions including the Ring Car Alarm and Car Cam. The Car Alarm plugs into the vehicle’s OBD-II port and notifies users via Ring and Amazon Alexa about incidents such as break-ins; it leverages Amazon Sidewalk for connectivity. The Car Cam includes front and rear-facing cameras monitoring vehicle interiors and offers alarm features alongside an "emergency crash assist" function that contacts emergency responders following severe collisions. It also supports a "traffic stop" voice command.
Ring unveiled Car Connect as well—a platform designed to allow automakers to integrate their existing vehicle cameras and security systems within Ring’s ecosystem. Tesla was announced as the inaugural partner with plans to release aftermarket accessories compatible with Model 3, Model X, Model S, and Model Y vehicles during 2021.
Astro as robotic home security guard
In September 2022, Amazon tested deploying its domestic robot Astro as a remotely operated security agent integrated with Ring devices. This setup enables remote users to maneuver Astro to address intruders following alerts from Ring. Industry analysts have raised concerns regarding privacy implications stemming from the combination of Astro’s mobility and Ring’s surveillance functions.
Amazon Sidewalk
Ring acquired Iotera, an internet of things (IoT) firm specializing in compact location trackers, in late 2017. Building on Iotera's technology, Amazon introduced "Amazon Sidewalk" in September 2019—a low-bandwidth, long-range wireless communication protocol. In January 2022, Ring launched the Ring Sidewalk Bridge Pro to extend Sidewalk connectivity into public areas. By March 2023, Amazon made the Sidewalk protocol available to developers, asserting that the IoT network covers nearly 90% of the U.S., primarily through Ring and Alexa-enabled devices.
Subscription plans
To save and access recorded videos, Ring products mandate a "Ring Protect" subscription; without this, users are limited to live video streaming only. The "Ring Protect Basic" plan stores footage for periods ranging from 60 to 180 days, whereas "Ring Protect Plus" provides unlimited video storage, professional monitoring services, LTE cellular backup for Ring Alarm systems, and extends warranty coverage from one year to the device’s lifetime.
Since March 29, 2023, subscription is also necessary for Home/Away mode functionalities. New customers must subscribe to Ring Protect to manage Ring Alarm via the mobile application; otherwise, control is restricted to the physical keypad interface.
Neighbors app
Launched by Ring in 2018, Neighbors is a hyperlocal social networking app designed as a neighborhood watch tool that enables users to collectively report and discuss local safety issues. It allows sharing video clips from Ring devices while ensuring all posts remain anonymous with no location data disclosed. Unlike platforms such as Nextdoor, Neighbors employs content moderation to maintain focus on relevant discussions. The app collaborates with select local law enforcement agencies by permitting official postings and incorporating Neighbors into crime monitoring efforts. Ring credits the app with assisting crime resolution and noted heightened user engagement during California's 2018 wildfires.
Following inquiries from Massachusetts Senator Ed Markey, Amazon revealed in 2019 the guidelines governing police requests for Neighbors footage: each request must include a case number, be submitted individually, and may receive footage covering up to 12 hours within the past 45 days across a half-square-mile area without requiring evidence. Markey criticized this approach as posing privacy concerns.
Law enforcement accesses user videos through the Ring Neighborhoods portal’s map-based interface. Amazon states it attempts to obtain user consent before sharing footage but may release it without approval in emergencies or when compelled by subpoena. In July 2022, Amazon confirmed it had provided footage without user consent at least eleven times during that year. In January 2024, Ring announced it would cease accepting police video requests via Neighbors, signaling a strategic move away from crime-centric features.
Products
TechHive awarded the second-generation Ring doorbell a score of 4 out of 5, praising enhancements in hardware and a simpler installation process relative to the original model, though it noted shortcomings in both printed and online user guides.
Police partnerships
In June 2019, Ring encountered backlash over its "Community Alert" initiative, which utilized location-based sponsored posts on platforms such as Facebook to request tips about suspects, using video footage shared by Ring users on the Neighbors app. Ring asserted that it obtained user consent before employing this content. Nonetheless, apprehensions were raised regarding the use of such footage for promotional purposes and potential facial recognition applications, especially given the extensive copyright license users grant to Neighbors, permitting unlimited, royalty-free use of submitted material. The company's collaborations with law enforcement agencies intensified these privacy concerns.
The digital rights organization Fight for the Future criticized Ring for constructing a private surveillance network through partnerships with police departments that also serve to market its products, arguing that these relationships threaten democratic values and individual freedoms. The Electronic Frontier Foundation condemned Ring’s marketing strategy for exploiting fear to boost hardware sales and observed that Neighbors and similar platforms can facilitate reports amounting to racial profiling. Meanwhile, the American Civil Liberties Union cautioned that the Ring Neighbors Portal blurs the distinction between corporate and governmental surveillance, creating pressure on users to share footage with authorities.
In July 2019, Vice’s Motherboard disclosed details about Ring’s collaboration with the Lakeland Police Department (LPD), which included access to a "Law Enforcement Neighborhood Portal" to post alerts on Neighbors and request videos from residents. The LPD received 15 donated Ring cameras and was contractually bound to promote the platform, earning $10 credits for each new registered user. Ring also suggested establishing new police roles such as a "social media coordinator" to support this partnership. Documents revealed that by April 2019, Ring had agreements with at least 200 law enforcement entities. Additionally, Ring proposed matching municipal payments that subsidize camera purchases for resale to local residents at reduced prices.
In November 2020, a pilot initiative in Jackson, Mississippi allowed select Ring users to grant police live access to their cameras at any time.
Alleged use of facial recognition technology
In February 2018, Business Insider reported that Ring’s privacy policy mentioned possible implementation of facial recognition technology designed to "recognize facial characteristics of familiar visitors," contingent on user approval. Later in December 2018, patents surfaced describing systems intended to identify "suspicious" individuals and notify law enforcement.
A 2019 Buzzfeed investigation revealed that Ring employed a "Head of Face Recognition Research" based in Ukraine who was developing semi-automated crime prevention technologies leveraging facial recognition. That same year, Senator Ed Markey initiated an inquiry into references within Ring’s privacy policy concerning facial recognition. Amazon responded by stating the feature was under consideration but had not been launched, emphasizing a commitment to customer demand and privacy safeguards prior to any deployment.
In November 2019, leaked internal documents described a "Proactive Suspect Matching" system designed to use facial recognition for profiling alleged offenders from Ring video footage; however, Ring denied developing or employing this capability. By 2020, the company publicly affirmed it neither uses nor sells facial recognition technology to law enforcement agencies.
Senator Markey introduced legislation titled the "Facial Recognition and Biometric Technology Moratorium Act" in 2021 and renewed his scrutiny of Ring in 2022, citing the company's unwillingness to rule out incorporating facial recognition as grounds for enacting restrictions on government biometric technology usage.
Amazon has since distanced itself from its Ukrainian division responsible for computer vision and facial recognition development. Following requests to minimize its connection with Amazon, the Kyiv office was rebranded as "Squad." This team now contributes to various Amazon projects beyond the scope of Ring products.
Security Issues
In January 2019, it emerged that employees at two Ring offices had unrestricted access to all video footage recorded by Ring devices. Furthermore, The Intercept disclosed that the video files were stored without encryption. A security evaluation conducted by Motherboard in December 2019 revealed that Ring's software lacked essential protections such as detecting unfamiliar IP addresses or notifying users of active login sessions, allowing unauthorized access from various countries without alerting the device owner.
The Neighbors network exposes metadata from videos and "crime alerts," which, when combined with publicly available city map information, frequently discloses the precise locations of devices. Over a one-month period, Gizmodo identified approximately 20,000 devices through data extracted from the app, while academic researchers traced around 440,000 devices using information dating back to 2016.
In July 2019, cybersecurity company Bitdefender discovered a security flaw in the Ring Video Doorbell Pro that was resolved prior to its public announcement in November. Later in December 2019, numerous Ring cameras were compromised by hackers who used the devices’ speakers to deliver racial insults and threats to households across the United States. An investigation by Motherboard uncovered that hacking forums were distributing the exploits employed in these attacks, with some perpetrators documenting their intrusions as "podcasts."
In response, Ring recommended users enhance their password strength, activate two-factor authentication (2FA), and implement additional security precautions. Starting February 18, 2020, Ring enforced mandatory 2FA for all its users.
Claims Regarding User Monitoring
On January 27, 2020, the Electronic Frontier Foundation revealed that the Android version of the Ring doorbell app was transmitting personally identifiable information—including user names, IP addresses, mobile network providers, persistent device identifiers, and sensor data—to third-party entities such as AppsFlyer, branch.io, Facebook, and Mixpanel. This disclosure sparked privacy concerns and prompted Amazon to provide users with an option to opt out of sharing data with these external companies.