Thousands of Ring doorbell users to receive slice of $5.6 million payout in just DAYS over camera footage lawsuit – check if you’re eligible
- Ring was accused of failing to protect its users’ private video footage
- The payout relates to a 2023 complaint filed by the Federal Trade Commission (FTC)
- Approximately 117,044 Ring users are affected and will receive approximately $47 each
Ring doorbell users could be lining up for cash as part of a $5.6 million settlement after the company was accused of failing to protect private video footage.
A 2023 complaint filed by the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) accused Amazon’s company of giving its employees and contractors access to customers’ private videos.
The doorbell camera and home security provider allegedly used images from its cameras without permission to train algorithms.
Ring was also accused of failing to implement key security measures, allowing hackers to take control of customers’ accounts, cameras and videos. This led to “serious violations of user privacy,” the FTC noted.
Approximately 117,044 Ring customers will receive payments worth approximately $47 each via PayPal within 30 days. Full details can be found at FTC website.
Ring doorbell users could be in line for a refund as part of a $5.6 million settlement after the company was accused of failing to protect private video footage
Today, Ring’s CEO is Liz Hamren, who took on the role last year
It only affects those who had certain types of devices, including indoor cameras, during the periods when regulators allege unauthorized access occurred.
The settlement also required Ring to remove content determined to have been unlawfully obtained and implement enhanced security measures.
In a statement to The Associated Press, Ring said bad actors used emails and passwords “stolen from other companies to unlawfully log into Ring accounts of certain customers” who used the same login credentials across multiple sites in 2019 – adding that the company immediately addressed this by notifying those it discovered were “exposed to a third-party, non-Ring incident” and taking action to protect the affected accounts.
Ring did not immediately address the FTC’s allegations that employees and contractors unlawfully accessed footage.
Earlier this year, the California-based company separately announced that it would stop allowing law enforcement to request users’ doorbell camera footage, ending a feature that had drawn criticism from privacy advocates.
The settlement comes after years of concerns about popular doorbell and home surveillance cameras.
In January, Ring said it would stop sharing images with police departments and other public safety agencies.
The company was founded in 2011 by entrepreneur Jamie Siminoff, who was inspired to create the doorbell security footage after discovering he kept missing deliveries, according to Amazon. At the time it was called ‘Doorbot.’
It was later renamed Ring, but Siminoff’s concept was famously rejected by entrepreneurs on the reality TV show Shark Tank in 2013. It was sold to Amazon for $1 billion in 2018.
Today the CEO is Liz Hamren, who took on the role last year.