Ring’s Flock Partnership Sparks Privacy Frenzy as Activists Call for Camera Smashing

Activists are urging people to smash their Ring cameras, claiming the Amazon-owned company is fueling a 'surveillance state' through its partnership with Flock—a move Ring insists is unrelated to ICE.

Ring’s partnership with Flock is under scrutiny after activists claim it enables ICE access to surveillance footage. A Ring spokesperson clarified the situation:

"Ring has no partnership with ICE … and does not share video with them," said spokesperson Yassi Yarger in an email to The Verge.

Flock’s AI-powered camera network reportedly allows government agencies—including ICE—to access data, fueling privacy concerns. The Community Requests tool lets local law enforcement request footage from Ring users, but Ring claims Flock integration is not yet live.

Users can disable Community Requests or enable end-to-end encryption (E2E) to block access. However, E2E disables features like person detection. Privacy-focused alternatives like Apple HomeKit Secure Video and Eufy’s local processing offer competing options.

Ring founder Jamie Siminoff acknowledged risks:

"The potential for such a large-scale local surveillance system to be used for other purposes is very real," said Ring founder Jamie Siminoff.