Skip to main content

Ring admits employees have improperly accessed customers’ doorbell videos

Ring has admitted that a number of its employees tried to improperly access Ring Doorbell videos and detailed the incidents in a letter to five U.S. senators.

Motherboard reports that on Monday, January 6, Amazon-owned Ring responded to a November 19 letter written by senators concerned about Ring’s security. In Monday’s letter, Ring said that there were four separate instances where former Ring employees improperly accessed data. 

Recommended Videos

“Over the last four years, Ring has received four complaints or inquiries regarding a team member’s access to Ring video data. Although each of the individuals involved in these incidents was authorized to view video data, the attempted access to that data exceeded what was necessary for their job functions,” Motherboard reports the letter reads. 

Please enable Javascript to view this content

Ring said in the letter that all of the employees in question are no longer with the company. 

Image used with permission by copyright holder

“In addition to taking swift action to investigate and take appropriate disciplinary action in each of these cases, Ring has taken multiple actions to limit such data access to a smaller number of team members,” the letter adds. 

Digital Trends reached out to Ring to find out more about what the employees were able to access in these instances. We’ll update the story once we hear back. 

Monday’s letter was a response to a letter written by Democratic Sens. Ron Wyden, Edward Markey, Chris Van Hollen, Chris Coons, and Gary Peters. The senators wrote to Amazon CEO Jeff Bezos about their concerns over Ring doorbell products and how secure customers’ data really is. 

“Americans who make the choice to install Ring products in and outside their homes do so under the assumption that they are — as your website proclaims — ‘making the neighborhood safer.’ As such, the American people have a right to know who else is looking at the data they provide to Ring, and if that data is secure from hackers,” the November 19 letter reads. 

The letter was written and sent to the company prior to a string of Ring hacks that caused many customers to question the security of their Ring doorbells. 

Last month, a man was able to hack a Ring camera located in a little girl’s bedroom and talk to her through the device’s speaker. In another instance last month, a California woman said her in-home Amazon Ring camera was hacked and inappropriate comments were made toward her. 

Also last month, Buzzfeed reported that more than 3,000 Ring cameras had been compromised, potentially exposing the login credentials of users and possibly enabling hackers easy access to all kinds of information. 

Ring announced updates to its security at CES on Monday, including a new Control Center that enables Ring users to opt out of receiving video requests from local police, as well as easier access and control over privacy and security settings within the Ring app. 

Allison Matyus
Former Digital Trends Contributor
Allison Matyus is a general news reporter at Digital Trends. She covers any and all tech news, including issues around social…
Google Nest Doorbell vs. Ring Video Doorbell (2nd Gen): which is better for your front door?
Ring Video Doorbell 2nd gen on doorway

Take a stroll through any neighborhood, and you're bound to encounter more than a few video doorbells. These nifty devices have grown in popularity over the years, with companies like Ring, Google, Arlo, and Wyze offering their own take on the hardware. But of all the products available today, few are as well-regarded as the Google Nest Doorbell and Ring Video Doorbell (2nd Gen).

These two devices are easy to install, capture high-quality footage, and bring an added layer of security to your front door. But which of the two is the better purchase -- the Nest Doorbell or the Ring Video Doorbell? Here's a look at both video doorbells to help you decide.
Design

Read more
Arlo Pro 5S vs. Ring Stick Up Cam Pro: Which is the best premium security camera?
The Arlo Pro 5S installed outside on a wall.

Security cameras are available at all budget levels, and it's not hard to find something under $50 that'll do a decent job of protecting your home. But if you're serious about home security, you'll likely want to increase your budget. Doing so will get you a product with better resolution, a wealth of useful features, and weatherproof designs that will work either indoors or out in the elements. And when it comes to premium security cameras, few products are as popular as the Arlo Pro 5S 2K and Ring Stick Up Cam Pro.

Interested in adding one of these high-end cameras to your home? Here's a comprehensive look at the Arlo Pro 5S 2K and Ring Stick Up Cam Pro to help you decide which is best for your needs.
Pricing and monthly fees

Read more
Blink Mini 2 vs. Wyze Cam v4: Which is the better budget security camera?
The Wyze Cam v4 installed outside.

The Blink Mini 2 and Wyze Cam v4 are two of the most affordable security cameras available in 2024. Both offer a compact footprint and impressive filming resolutions, and both can be used indoors and outdoors. However, there are some major differences between these two budget-minded products -- and while frugal shoppers will find a lot to love about both, one of them is a better product for most homes.

Here's a look at the Blink Mini 2 and Wyze Cam v4 to help you decide which to purchase.
Pricing and monthly fees
The Blink Mini 2 costs $40 and is available in black or white. If you want to use the device outdoors, you'll need to pick up the Weather Resistant Adapter, which bumps the price to $50. You'll also want to spring for the Blink Basic Plan, which costs $3 per month, to access features like cloud history.

Read more