did my civic duty today:went to a local donut shopnoticed they had a new ring camera up

@Herndonite well today youve learned that when you post a link to a snopes article and no other explanation thats 'internet speak for':

'your statement is bullshit and snopes says youre wrong'

@Viss
Lesson learned.

I will add, that I see lots of people posting claims on Mastodon which on reflex I agree with and am tempted to pass along. However, if it is something I have not seen other information on, I will check it out myself. That way I am not unintentionally spreading misinformation.

The right has made a meal out of posting lies and spreading unfounded fear knowing that their base will not verify their claims. I think those of us on the other side, should strive to be better.

@JessTheUnstill @Viss they control the software. Don't expect that cancelling a cloud subscription prevents them from accessing the device they built and control. It just prevents you from accessing it.

@zymurgic @Viss I'm saying for people who aren't handy, it may take some time and go buy a new doorbell and install it. And they probably need a working doorbell in the process. So at least harm reduction.

@zymurgic There seems to be a lot of people that think user interfaces run by a company are somehow objective and will do what they say they will.

– I pressed the button named ”Delete account”, so I’m safe.

– But did you check what the button was connected to?

@Viss @Herndonite i dont actually care if its being used by terrorists are using it specifcally to target immegrants or women than if their targeting any other set of people for any other reason, its still being used to help the state beat people up

@ahltorp @zymurgic very frustraiting trend recently where 'delete account' actually means 'just make it so i cant access it but keep all the data and information you have about me online forevermore'

@Viss Does anyone know if Blink cameras (also now part of Amazon) are similarly compromised? I have a couple of them watching my back yard.

@ewhac i have not personally seen a bunch of press about it, but if theyre run by amazon, its definitely worth looking into.

@Viss Or just put masking tape over the camera.

@msbellows @Viss

Electrical tape. Works a treat. Especially in places where you can't necessarily control the infrastructure. Hard to spot unless you're looking for it. If you cover a lense and any LEDs just right, most people won't until they do a closer inspection. The real trick is finding camera blind spots so you aren't recorded in the process.

@503bartley So glad I never liked those cameras.

@Viss

What would be even cooler is to talk to ghe owners to disconnect Ring (etc) cameras from Ring and set them to be used by the resistance instead.

@Viss @Herndonite

Just curious... Did you read the Snopes article before making assumptions about the intent of the person who posted it? (Full disclosure - I did not due to the pay wall)

But, Snopes is exremely reputable, so regardless of whether it supports the claim or not it's a worthy contribution to the conversation.

@Viss PS - love your original post. Just though you were a little harsh unnecessarily.

@IT_SME its internet etiiquite

@IT_SME

https://mastodon.social/@Viss/116043041765561543

@503bartley @Viss Link unshortened, if anyone is interested: https://arstechnica.com/gadgets/2025/10/ring-cameras-are-about-to-get-increasingly-chummy-with-law-enforcement/

@Viss “Ring does not provide ICE with direct, free, or automatic access to user camera footage. While Ring has partnered with Flock Safety to aid local law enforcement, Ring has stated that it does not share footage with federal immigration authorities. However, law enforcement can request footage via legal processes or through user consent, and local, state, or federal authorities might still access footage via partnerships with third-party, surveillance-integrated platforms.”
Google Search

which allows local law enforcement agencies to request video from Ring customers who use its Neighbors app

So, if a local law enforcement agency is collaborating with ICE, and the local cops request access to the video from the customer, and the customer uses Ring's Neighbors app, and the Ring user allows local cops to have access to their feed, then, yes, ICE can see it.

But no, according to all verifiable information, having a Ring camera doesn't automatically mean ICE can spy on your video feed.

If you don't want to use the camera on principle because Flock is terrible (they are), and local cops shouldn't give ICE access to their surveillance network (they shouldn't), that's totally valid.

But don't just make stuff up.

@Viss@mastodon.social @Herndonite@mastodon.online