Ring’s controversial, AI-powered “Search Party” feature isn’t intended to always be limited only to dogs, the company’s founder, Jamie Siminoff, told Ring employees in an internal email obtained by 404 Media.
In October, Ring launched Search Party, an on-by-default feature that links together Ring cameras in a neighborhood and uses AI to search for specific lost dogs, essentially creating a networked, automated surveillance system. The feature got some attention at the time, but faced extreme backlash after Ring and Siminoff promoted Search Party during a Super Bowl ad. 404 Media obtained an email that Siminoff sent to all Ring employees in early October, soon after the feature’s launch, which said the feature was introduced “first for finding dogs,” but that it or features like it would be expanded to “zero out crime in neighborhoods.”
“This is by far the most innovation that we have launched in the history of Ring. And it is not only the quantity, but quality,” Siminoff wrote. “I believe that the foundation we created with Search Party, first for finding dogs, will end up becoming one of the most important pieces of tech and innovation to truly unlock the impact of our mission. You can now see a future where we are able to zero out crime in neighborhoods. So many things to do to get there but for the first time ever we have the chance to fully complete what we started.”
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I have to say, it’s nice that they got called out on this immediately for a change.
And in other breaking news: the sky is blue, tree pretty, and fire hot.
Only if it’s a lemon tree.
As long as there are no whores about.
Hey! It’s their chinese year, show some respect!
I bet we could convince the lemon stealing whores to join the lemon party.
A lemon tree, my dear Watson?
Ancient book of Arabic numerals reveals 2 comes after 1.
Breaking news: Fire is hot.
Ok guys, hear me out.
I need you to buy these cameras and put them on your face.
We will record your video for you and keep it safe for you and never give your data to anybody and we’ll do all of this for free.
We’ll also give you all of the software and setup all of the servers for you. Don’t you worry your silly head about needing to learn anything about how to use technology, just give us your life-long dependence as we’ll take care of everything. Also, AI.*
Also, you will help save puppies and children and you are on the side of puppies and children, right? This is a great deal! You can stop reading here, just click the button to agree… for the puppies.
*
spoiler
You also grant to us full, exclusive, worldwide, in perpetuity, until the sun falls the rights to use your likeness, words, thoughts, essence, and produces in any manner that we, in our sole discretion, see fit and you also agree to submit to binding arbitration for any disputes
In exchange, We will never give away your data. But we will ruthlessly exploit OUR licensed copy of your data to sell to anybody who can do a wire transfer.
It’s about dogs and crime. Sure.
fuckin’… they were expanding into dogs to distract from what the system was really for
I never even heard of it before the superb owl ad. I couldn’t believe how dirty it was to tug at our heartstrings to make us pay them to spy on us.
What the fuck, America?
Wait till you learn about flock cameras and the raven sound detection
Is that the one listening out for gunshots? I don’t necessarily have a problem with that unless it’s listening in on conversations or something. But that would be a pretty good mic.
always assume the equipment of our open air prison panopticon is more capable than they admit, but also never let them stop you from speaking truth
No its only for listening for lost dog barks. /s
Hell, they were saying it was for dogs so stupid people would get their heart strings pulled and blindly sign up.
No shit Sherlock
Y’all just need to think about the shareholders.
😱
No way! It seemed so authentic when they said they’d search for dogs.
Imagine how evil you have to be to use dogs to sell mass surveillance.
I’m shocked! Shocked, I tell you.
Ok… I’m not shocked at all.
