After Search Party backlash, Ring is still avoiding the bigger questions
Source: The Verge
Overview
Ring founder Jamie Siminoff has been on an “explanation tour,” as The New York Times puts it, following the fallout from its Super Bowl ad and the introduction of its Search Party feature.
Siminoff’s Response
In an interview with The New York Times this week, Siminoff said he understands people’s concerns and that “maybe people were ‘triggered’ by an image in the ad that showed blue rings radiating out from suburban homes.” He added that there will be fewer maps in any future ads.
“Including maps that showed mass surveillance in an ad was a mistake,” Siminoff acknowledged in the interview.
Screenshot from Ring video
Core Issue
Graphics in ads are not the problem. The problem is the potential for Ring’s vast network of AI‑powered camera technology to be turned into a surveillance tool, one accessible to law enforcement and other entities.