Company:Ring Inc.

From HandWiki
Short description: Home security product manufacturer
Ring Inc.
TypeSubsidiary
PredecessorBot Home Automation, Inc.
Founded2013; 11 years ago (2013) (as Doorbot)
FounderJamie Siminoff
HeadquartersSanta Monica, California, U.S.
ProductsSmart doorbells
Outdoor cameras
Home alarm systems
ServicesCloud recording
Alarm monitoring
OwnerAmazon
(2018–present)
Number of employees
1,300 (2018)[1]

Ring Inc.[2] (formerly Doorbot) is a home security and smart home company owned by Amazon. Ring manufactures a range of home security products that incorporate outdoor motion-detecting cameras, including its flagship Ring Video Doorbell and its Neighbors app. The company's head office is in Santa Monica, California .[2]

Ring provides video footage from its cameras and data from its Neighbors app to law enforcement agencies upon request. Ring's police partnerships were criticized by media outlets and civil rights advocacy groups for being privacy-invasive.

History

Pre-acquisition (2013–2017)

Ring was founded in 2013 as Doorbot by Jamie Siminoff. Doorbot was crowdfunded via Christie Street, and raised US$364,000; more than the $250,000 requested.[2][3][4]

In 2013, Siminoff and Doorbot appeared on an episode of the reality series Shark Tank to seek a $700,000 investment in the company, which he estimated was worth $7 million.[5] Kevin O’Leary made an offer as a potential investor that Siminoff declined.[6] After being on Shark Tank, Siminoff rebranded the company and it received $5 million in additional sales.[6]

In 2016, Shaquille O'Neal acquired an equity stake in Ring, and subsequently became a spokesperson in the company's marketing.[7] In a series of internal emails, Siminoff declared war with "the dirtbag criminals that steal our packages and rob our houses" in 2016 and competitor ADT Inc. in 2017.[8]

The company raised over $200 million in investments from Kleiner Perkins Caufield Byers, Qualcomm Ventures, Goldman Sachs, DFJ Growth and Sir Richard Branson—founder of Virgin Group.[9][10][11]

Subsidiary of Amazon (2018–present)

Ring was acquired by Amazon in February 2018 for an estimated value of between $1.2 billion and $1.8 billion.[12][13]

In January 2019, it was uncovered that employees at Ring's two offices have access to the video recordings from all Ring devices.[14] In addition, The Intercept reported that the video data is stored unencrypted.[15]

In June 2019, Ring faced criticism over a "Community Alert" program, under which the company has made geographically-targeted sponsored posts on social media services such as Facebook, asking readers to provide tips on suspects in verified cases, based on imagery posted on the Neighbors service by a Ring customer. Ring states that it seeks permission from the user before using their content in this manner. However, these discoveries did lead to concerns over the use of such footage in material deemed to effectively be advertising, as well as concerns over other possible uses of the footage (such as for training facial recognition) due to the wide copyright license that users must grant to in order to use Neighbors (an irrevocable, unlimited, and royalty-free license to use shared content "for any purpose and in any media formats in any media channels without compensation to you"), and Ring's partnerships with local law enforcement agencies.[16][17]

In July 2019, Vice publication Motherboard obtained records revealing the extent of Ring's partnership with the Lakeland Police Department (PD); the department was granted access to a "Law Enforcement Neighborhood Portal" for making posts on Neighbors and the ability to "request videos directly from Ring users", and received a donation of 15 Ring cameras. However, the memorandum of understanding stated that the PD would be required to participate in "outreach efforts on the platform to encourage adoption of the platform/app" (receiving $10 credits for Ring camera purchases for each new user). Ring also recommended that the PD establish specific new positions for the partnership, including a "social media coordinator".[18] Later in the month, Motherboard obtained public records containing an officer's notes from an April 2019 training webinar, which stated that Ring had partnered with at least 200 law enforcement partners.[19] In early-August 2019, Motherboard also reported that Ring would match payments by cities to cover the subsidized purchase of Ring cameras, so that they can be resold to residents at a discount.[20]

Cybersecurity firm Bitdefender identified a vulnerability in the Ring Video Doorbell Pro product in July 2019, which was patched before being publicly disclosed in November 2019.[21][22][23] Security hackers accessed a number of Ring cameras in December 2019 and used the device speakers to broadcast racial slurs, threats, and other inflammatory language to multiple households across the United States.[24][25][26] A Motherboard investigation discovered crime forums that distributed software exploits of Ring devices that were used in the cyberattacks.[27] NulledCast, a podcast on Discord, livestreamed some of the incidents.[24] Ring responded to the incidents by advising its users to have strong passwords, enable two-factor authentication, and adopt other security measures.[28]

Products and services

Ring Video Doorbell

The Ring Video Doorbell is the company's flagship product; it is a smart doorbell that contains a high-definition camera, a motion sensor, and a microphone and speaker for two-way audio communication. It integrates with an associated mobile app, which allows users to view real-time video from the camera, receive notifications when the doorbell is rung, and communicate with visitors at the door via the integrated speaker and microphone. It is also capable of operating as a surveillance camera, and can automatically trigger recordings when rung, or when its motion sensors are activated.[29][30][31][32] A second-generation model (Ring Doorbell 2) was released in 2017, with refreshed hardware, and a 1080p camera with improved low-light performance.[33]

The "Ring Chime" accessory is a unit plugged into a power outlet to play the doorbell's chime. The "Chime Pro" is an extended version that also doubles as a wireless repeater for Wi-Fi networks.[34]

Home security

In 2015, Ring first released the "Stick-Up Cam", a wireless IP camera. It was updated in 2018 with a cylindrical form factor, motion detection, two-way audio, as well as battery, wired, and solar power options.[35] In 2017, Ring released the "Floodlight Cam", a camera integrated with a pair of motion-activated LED floodlights.[36]

In July 2018, Ring launched an alarm security kit, which includes a keypad, siren, and motion sensors.[37][38][39] At CES 2019, Ring announced a peephole camera.[40]

Subscription plans

Ring products require a "Ring Protect" subscription plan in order to store and view recordings from the cameras; without a subscription, the user is limited to real-time footage only. The "Ring Protect Basic" plan allows footage to be retained for 60 days, while the "Ring Protect Plus" subscription adds "unlimited" storage of footage, enables professional monitoring and LTE cellular backup on the Ring Alarm, and extends the warranty on the user's Ring products from one year to the life of the devices.[41][42][43]

Neighbors app

In 2018, Ring launched Neighbors, a hyperlocal social networking app. Described as being akin to a neighborhood watch, it allows users to crowdsource information on and discuss safety and security concerns in their area. The service allows users to share footage captured from Ring products, so that others can help to identify suspects. All user posts are anonymous and do not include specific location information, and are moderated to remove off-topic content (in contrast to services such as Nextdoor, it focuses exclusively on crime and safety). Ring also has partnerships with local police departments in some cities to incorporate Neighbors into their crime monitoring processes, and they are also able to make official posts for distribution on the service. Ring has credited the service with having helped to solve crimes, and noted that activity on the service surged in California regions affected by wildfires in November 2018.[44][45]

Amazon disclosed Ring's criteria for accepting requests from police departments for video footage shared to the Neighbors Portal in a response to Massachusetts Senator Ed Markey on November 1, 2019. Each police request must be associated with a case number and submitted individually, although no evidence is needed. Ring provides at most 12 hours of footage recorded within the previous 45 days in a maximum search area of 0.5 square miles for each request. Markey criticized Amazon's response, describing Ring as "an open door for privacy and civil liberty violations".[46][47]

Police officers access user-generated footage through the Ring Neighborhoods Portal using a map interface. After an officer requests video from a list of houses, Ring sends all affected users automated messages requesting permission to release the footage.[8]

Reception

Products

TechHive gave the second-generation Ring doorbell a 4 out of 5, noting improvements in hardware and ease of installation over the first-generation model, but criticizing a lack of printed and online documentation.[48]

Police partnerships

Digital rights advocacy group Fight for the Future criticized Ring for using its cameras and Neighbors app to build a private surveillance network via partnerships with local law enforcement agencies, which encourage them to promote the products. The group stated that these partnerships "undermine our democratic process and basic civil liberties".[49][50] According to the Electronic Frontier Foundation, Ring used these partnerships and its marketing strategies to foster fear, which leads to a "vicious cycle" that spurs hardware sales. The organization said that Ring, as well as Neighbors and similar "neighborhood watch" apps such as Citizen and Nextdoor, "facilitate reporting of so-called 'suspicious' behavior that really amounts to racial profiling."[51] Matt Cagle of the American Civil Liberties Union said that the Ring Neighbors Portal "blurs the line between corporate and government surveillance" and that "Many people are not going to feel like they have a choice when law enforcement asks for access to their footage".[8]

References

  1. ↑ Murphy, Mike. "Ring, which Amazon just bought for $1 billion, was once rejected by ‘Shark Tank’" (in en-US). https://www.marketwatch.com/story/ring-which-amazon-just-bought-for-1-billion-was-once-rejected-by-shark-tank-2018-02-27. 
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 "Company Overview of Ring Inc.". https://www.bloomberg.com/research/stocks/private/snapshot.asp?privcapId=246348314. 
  3. ↑ Perez, Chris. "Doorbot Is Knocking Upon the Future of Doorbells" (in en). https://www.apartmenttherapy.com/doorbot-is-this-your-next-doorbell-ces-2013-183425. 
  4. ↑ Hsu, Jeremy (January 25, 2013). "'DoorBot' for Homeowners Hits $250,000 Goal". http://www.technewsdaily.com/16580-doorbot-homeowners-funding-goal.html. 
  5. ↑ "After This Entrepreneur Got Nothing on 'Shark Tank,' Richard Branson Wrote Him a Check" (in en). Inc.com. August 19, 2015. https://www.inc.com/chris-matyszczyk/he-got-nothing-on-shark-tank-then-richard-branson-gave-him-28-million.html. 
  6. ↑ 6.0 6.1 "This guy turned his failure on 'Shark Tank' into a $109 million investment from Goldman Sachs" (in en). Business Insider. http://www.businessinsider.com/ring-doorbot-shark-tank-goldman-sachs-2017-1. 
  7. ↑ Susan Adams (February 27, 2018). "The Exclusive Inside Story Of Ring: From 'Shark Tank' Reject To Amazon's Latest Acquisition". https://www.forbes.com/sites/susanadams/2018/02/27/amazon-is-buying-ring-the-pioneer-of-the-video-doorbell-for-1-billion/. Retrieved March 25, 2019. 
  8. ↑ 8.0 8.1 8.2 Biddle, Sam (February 14, 2019). "Amazon's Home Surveillance Chief Declared War on "Dirtbag Criminals" as Company Got Closer to Police". https://theintercept.com/2019/02/14/amazon-ring-police-surveillance/. Retrieved January 17, 2020. 
  9. ↑ Friedman, Zack. "Shark Tank Reject Raises $209 Million, Fights Crime" (in en). Forbes. https://www.forbes.com/sites/zackfriedman/2017/02/22/shark-tank-ring-siminoff/#7da6d3a43312. 
  10. ↑ "UPDATED: ABC’s ‘Shark Tank’ makes its decision on Allen County native, veteran Bart Lomont’s Robin Autopilot | News, Sports, Jobs - News-Sentinel" (in en-US). http://www.news-sentinel.com/news/local-news/2017/11/13/abcs-shark-tank-makes-its-decision-on-allen-county-native-veteran-bart-lomonts-robin-autopilot/. 
  11. ↑ DFJ (October 19, 2017). "Jamie Siminoff, Ring". https://medium.com/dfj-vc/jamie-siminoff-ring-13613363b85c. 
  12. ↑ Kim, Eugene (February 27, 2018). "Amazon buys Ring, the smart doorbell maker it backed through Alexa Fund". CNBC. https://www.cnbc.com/2018/02/27/amazon-buys-ring-the-smart-door-bell-maker-it-backed-through-alexa-fund.html. 
  13. ↑ "Amazon is making its second-biggest acquisition ever — the doorbell company Ring". Recode. https://www.recode.net/2018/2/27/17059768/amazon-ring-acquisition-doorbell. 
  14. ↑ Wiggers, Kyle (January 10, 2019). "Ring employees reportedly had access to all live and recorded customer videos". VentureBeat. https://venturebeat.com/2019/01/10/ring-employees-reportedly-had-access-to-all-live-and-recorded-customer-videos/. 
  15. ↑ Biddle, Sam (January 10, 2018). "For Owners of Amazon's Ring Security Cameras, Strangers May Have Been Watching Too". The Intercept. https://theintercept.com/2019/01/10/amazon-ring-security-camera/. 
  16. ↑ Reichert, Corinne. "Ring puts suspected thief in Facebook sponsored ads" (in en). https://www.cnet.com/news/ring-puts-suspected-thief-in-facebook-sponsored-ads/. 
  17. ↑ Alba, Davey; Mac, Ryan (June 7, 2019). "Amazon’s Doorbell Camera Company Is Using Security Video For Ads. That May Only Be The Beginning." (in en). https://www.buzzfeednews.com/article/daveyalba/amazon-ring-doorbell-company-using-security-footage-for-ads. 
  18. ↑ Haskins, Caroline; Koebler, Jason (July 25, 2019). "Amazon Requires Police to Shill Surveillance Cameras in Secret Agreement" (in en-US). https://www.vice.com/en_us/article/mb88za/amazon-requires-police-to-shill-surveillance-cameras-in-secret-agreement. 
  19. ↑ Haskins, Caroline; Maiberg, Emanuel; Mead, Derek; Koebler, Jason (July 29, 2019). "Amazon Told Police It Has Partnered With 200 Law Enforcement Agencies" (in en-US). https://www.vice.com/en_ca/article/j5wyjy/amazon-told-police-it-has-partnered-with-200-law-enforcement-agencies. 
  20. ↑ Haskins, Caroline; Koebler, Jason; Mead, Derek (August 2, 2019). "US Cities Are Helping People Buy Amazon Surveillance Cameras With Taxpayer Money" (in en-US). https://www.vice.com/en_us/article/d3ag37/us-cities-are-helping-people-buy-amazon-surveillance-cameras-using-taxpayer-money. 
  21. ↑ Palmer, Danny (November 7, 2019). "Amazon fixes Ring Video Doorbell wi-fi security vulnerability". https://www.zdnet.com/article/amazon-fixes-ring-video-doorbell-wi-fi-security-vulnerability/. Retrieved 2019-12-13. 
  22. ↑ Ng, Alfred (November 7, 2019). "Ring doorbells had vulnerability leaking Wi-Fi login info, researchers find". https://www.cnet.com/news/ring-doorbells-had-vulnerability-leaking-wi-fi-login-info-researchers-found/. Retrieved 2019-12-13. 
  23. ↑ "Ring Video Doorbell Pro Under the Scope". November 7, 2019. https://www.bitdefender.com/files/News/CaseStudies/study/294/Bitdefender-WhitePaper-RDoor-CREA3949-en-EN-GenericUse.pdf. 
  24. ↑ 24.0 24.1 Cox, Joseph; Koebler, Jason (12 December 2019). "Inside the Podcast that Hacks Ring Camera Owners Live on Air". https://www.vice.com/en_us/article/z3bbq4/podcast-livestreams-hacked-ring-cameras-nulledcast. Retrieved 2019-12-12. 
  25. ↑ Murdock, Jason (10 December 2019). "Ring camera hacker uses home security system to spew racial slurs at Florida family". https://www.newsweek.com/florida-cape-coral-amazon-ring-home-security-system-hacked-racial-slurs-1476430. Retrieved 2019-12-12. 
  26. ↑ Howerton, Matt (December 11, 2019). "Hacker says, 'pay bitcoin ransom or get terminated,' through couple's Ring security cameras". https://www.wfaa.com/article/news/hacker-says-pay-bitcoin-ransom-or-get-terminated-through-couples-ring-security-cameras/287-226c535c-c765-4b29-91b6-d849fb315e94. Retrieved 2019-12-12. 
  27. ↑ Cox, Joseph; Cole, Samantha (11 December 2019). "How Hackers Are Breaking Into Ring Cameras". https://www.vice.com/en_us/article/3a88k5/how-hackers-are-breaking-into-ring-cameras. Retrieved 2019-12-12. 
  28. ↑ Holley, Jessica. "Family says hackers accessed a Ring camera in their 8-year-old daughter’s room". https://www.wmcactionnews5.com/2019/12/11/family-says-hackers-accessed-ring-camera-their-year-old-daughters-room/. Retrieved 2019-12-12. 
  29. ↑ Dave, Paresh. "Ring modernized the doorbell, then its inventor, Jamie Siminoff, went to war against crime" (in en-US). Los Angeles Times. http://www.latimes.com/business/technology/la-fi-tn-ring-jamie-siminoff-20170412-htmlstory.html. 
  30. ↑ "The real cost of setting up a smart home" (in en). USA Today. https://www.usatoday.com/story/tech/talkingtech/2017/11/12/real-cost-setting-up-smart-home/844977001/. 
  31. ↑ Pollicino, Joe (December 6, 2012). "DoorBot lets you see and talk with who's at the door from the comfort of your smartphone (video)". https://www.engadget.com/2012/12/06/edison-junior-doorbot-video-doorbell/. 
  32. ↑ Ashe, Dru (December 7, 2012). "DoorBot: The Wi-Fi Doorbell That Connects to Your Smartphone | Complex". http://www.complex.com/tech/2012/12/introducing-doorbot-the-wifi-video-doorbell-that-connects-to-your-smartphone. 
  33. ↑ "Ring Video Doorbell 2 review: Better features, new frustrations" (in en). August 23, 2017. https://www.techhive.com/article/3216065/ring-video-doorbell-2-review.html. 
  34. ↑ Hollister, Sean (November 19, 2018). "Pre-Black Friday deal alert: Ring Video Doorbell 2 and Echo Dot for $140". https://www.theverge.com/good-deals/2018/11/19/18103207/best-buy-black-friday-deals-sale-ring-video-doorbell-2-free-echo-dot-2018. 
  35. ↑ Cipriani, Jason. "Ring Stick Up Cam Battery review: An all around security camera, inside and out Review" (in en). https://www.zdnet.com/product/ring-stick-up-cam-battery/. 
  36. ↑ Delaney, John R. (August 2, 2017). "Ring Floodlight Cam" (in en). https://www.pcmag.com/review/355300/ring-floodlight-cam. 
  37. ↑ Wollerton, Megan (July 20, 2018). "Ring Alarm Security Kit review". CNET (CBS Interactive). https://www.cnet.com/reviews/ring-alarm-indoor-security-kit-review/. 
  38. ↑ Sawers, Paul (October 2, 2017). "Ring launches Protect, a DIY home security system starting at $199". VentureBeat. https://venturebeat.com/2017/10/02/ring-launches-protect-a-diy-home-security-system/. 
  39. ↑ Wetzel, Kim (October 2, 2017). "Affordable, DIY Ring Protect Looks to Lock Up the Home Security System Market". Digital Trends. https://www.digitaltrends.com/home/ring-protect/. 
  40. ↑ Graham, Jefferson (January 7, 2019). "No doorbell, no problem: Ring introduces Door View Cam that replaces peephole in homes". USA Today. https://www.usatoday.com/story/tech/talkingtech/2019/01/07/ces-2019-ring-introduces-peephole-camera-people-without-doorbells/2484864002/. 
  41. ↑ Seifert, Dan (July 3, 2018). "Ring Alarm review: simple, cheap home security". https://www.theverge.com/2018/7/3/17530782/ring-alarm-security-system-smart-home-review-price-features. 
  42. ↑ "How much do Ring camera storage plans cost?" (in en). January 24, 2019. https://www.androidcentral.com/how-much-do-ring-camera-storage-plans-cost. 
  43. ↑ "Ring Floodlight Cam review: An excellent choice—if you’re living in Ring’s ecosystem" (in en). January 26, 2018. https://www.techhive.com/article/3250641/ring-floodlight-cam-review.html. 
  44. ↑ "In first move since Amazon acquisition, Ring launches Neighbors app to help users fight crime" (in en-US). May 8, 2018. https://www.geekwire.com/2018/first-move-since-amazon-acquisition-ring-launches-neighbors-app-help-users-fight-crime/. 
  45. ↑ Rubin, Ben Fox. "How Ring's Neighbors app is making home security a social thing" (in en). https://www.cnet.com/news/how-rings-neighbors-app-is-making-home-security-a-social-thing/. 
  46. ↑ Lecher, Colin (November 19, 2019). "Amazon lets police ask for Ring videos that are more than a month old". https://www.theverge.com/2019/11/19/20973173/amazon-ring-police-video-privacy-markey-senate-letter. Retrieved November 20, 2019. 
  47. ↑ "Response Letter_Ring_Senator Markey January 11, 2019.pdf". United States Senate. November 1, 2019. https://www.markey.senate.gov/imo/media/doc/Response%20Letter_Ring_Senator%20Markey%2011.01.2019.pdf. Retrieved November 20, 2019. 
  48. ↑ "Ring Video Doorbell 2 review: Better features, new frustrations" (in en). August 23, 2017. https://www.techhive.com/article/3216065/ring-video-doorbell-2-review.html. 
  49. ↑ "Amazon's Ring doorbell police tie-up criticised" (in en-GB). BBC News. August 1, 2019. https://www.bbc.com/news/technology-49191005. 
  50. ↑ Ng, Alfred. "This map tells you where police have partnered with Amazon's Ring" (in en). https://www.cnet.com/news/this-map-tells-you-where-police-have-partnered-with-amazons-ring/. 
  51. ↑ Guariglia, Matthew (August 8, 2019). "Amazon’s Ring Is a Perfect Storm of Privacy Threats" (in en). https://www.eff.org/deeplinks/2019/08/amazons-ring-perfect-storm-privacy-threats. 




Retrieved from "https://handwiki.org/wiki/index.php?title=Company:Ring_Inc.&oldid=3475042"