Ring Stops Working With Flock Safety After People Got Worried About Privacy

Ring, the company that makes smart doorbells, will no longer partner with Flock Safety. This decision comes after a recent advertisement caused people to worry about their privacy and too much watching by police. Ring says the partnership was never actually used to share videos.
By Newsroom | Technology, Security |

Amazon's smart doorbell company, Ring, has announced it is ending its partnership with Flock Safety, a company known for its surveillance services. This decision follows a significant public backlash, primarily ignited by a recent Super Bowl advertisement for Ring's "Search Party" feature. Critics have voiced strong concerns about privacy and the potential for increased surveillance, particularly in light of both companies' existing relationships with law enforcement agencies.

Background and Timeline

In October 2025, Ring, owned by Amazon, announced a planned partnership with Flock Safety. This collaboration was intended to allow Ring doorbell owners to voluntarily share video footage with law enforcement agencies that utilize Flock's software for "evidence collection and investigative work." The partnership was slated to operate under Ring's "Community Requests" feature, which facilitates voluntary sharing of video during active investigations.

Read More: Ring Stops Deal with Flock Safety After People Worry About Privacy

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A Super Bowl advertisement for Ring's "Search Party" feature, designed to help users find lost pets by scanning footage from participating Ring cameras, aired recently. This advertisement, however, intensified existing privacy concerns and sparked a new wave of criticism.

On Thursday, February 13, 2026, multiple news outlets reported that Ring had terminated its partnership with Flock Safety. This announcement came just days after the Super Bowl ad aired.

Amazon's Ring ends deal with surveillance firm after backlash - 2

Key Actors and Events

  • Amazon's Ring: The smart doorbell company, owned by Amazon, that has ended its partnership with Flock Safety. Ring has faced scrutiny over its privacy practices and its work with law enforcement.

  • Flock Safety: A security technology company that provides surveillance services, including license plate scanning, to law enforcement agencies.

  • Super Bowl Advertisement: A recent advertisement for Ring's "Search Party" feature, which critics argued heightened concerns about unwanted surveillance and contributed to the backlash.

  • Privacy and Civil Liberties Advocates: Groups and individuals who have urged Ring to drop its partnership with Flock Safety, citing potential privacy infringements.

  • Law Enforcement Agencies: Entities that have contracts with both Ring and Flock Safety, utilizing their technologies for investigations and evidence collection.

  • Community Requests Feature: A Ring feature that allows users to voluntarily share video footage with law enforcement during active investigations.

  • Search Party Feature: A Ring feature, showcased in the Super Bowl ad, designed to help users find lost pets by scanning footage from participating Ring cameras.

Evidence of Partnership and Termination

Reports confirm that Ring and Flock Safety announced their partnership in October 2025. This deal aimed to offer Ring owners the option to share footage with law enforcement agencies using Flock's software.

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However, multiple sources indicate that the partnership never became active. Ring and Flock Safety have both stated that no Ring customer videos were ever shared with Flock.

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  • Ring spokesperson Emma Daniels stated that the partnership "was never active, and the companies never announced a date for it to go live."

  • Flock Safety also confirmed that the canceled deal was a "mutual decision."

  • The integration "never launched, so no Ring customer videos were ever sent to Flock."

Public Backlash and Privacy Concerns

The Super Bowl advertisement for the "Search Party" feature is widely cited as the catalyst for the recent public outcry. While framed as a helpful tool, the ad prompted concerns that such technology could be misused.

  • Surveillance State Accusations: Critics have accused Ring of contributing to a "surveillance state" through its partnerships and features.

  • Mistrust Over Privacy: Both Ring and Flock have faced public mistrust regarding their privacy practices and data-sharing policies.

  • Work with Law Enforcement: The involvement of both companies with law enforcement agencies, including contracts with police departments and the use of license plate readers, has fueled these concerns. Ring cameras and license plate readers were reportedly active in over 5,000 US cities as of last year.

  • False Claims: A viral post on X falsely claimed that U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) could access Ring cameras, although both Ring and Flock have stated they do not have a relationship with ICE.

Functionality and User Control

The functionalities of both "Search Party" and "Community Requests" have been subjects of discussion:

Read More: Ring Stops Deal with Flock Safety After Ad Causes Worry

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  • Search Party: Described as automatically enabled, requiring users to opt out. This contrasts with the "Community Requests" feature.

  • Community Requests: Requires voluntary participation from Ring owners to send video footage to public agencies. Ring stated this feature can assist in solving active police investigations, citing an instance where it helped identify a witness in a shooting case in December.

Ring has emphasized that participation in its community programs is "always voluntary."

Expert Analysis

"Privacy and civil liberties advocates urged Ring to drop its partnership with Flock." - CNBC

"Many viewers found Ring's Super Bowl ad more creepy than cute." - Business Insider

"Critics are accusing Ring of rolling out 'mass surveillance'." - TechRadar

Conclusion

Amazon's Ring has severed ties with Flock Safety, a decision directly linked to significant public backlash following a Super Bowl advertisement. While the planned partnership was intended to facilitate voluntary video sharing for law enforcement investigations, the ad's promotion of features like "Search Party" amplified existing anxieties about pervasive surveillance and data privacy.

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Both companies maintain that the integration never launched and no data was exchanged. Ring has reiterated its commitment to voluntary participation and privacy. Nevertheless, the incident highlights the ongoing tension between the utility of surveillance technology and public demand for robust privacy protections. The termination of the partnership may not fully appease critics, as it addresses only one facet of broader concerns surrounding Ring's operations and its collaboration with law enforcement.

Sources

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Frequently Asked Questions

Q: Why did Ring stop working with Flock Safety?
Ring stopped because people were worried about their privacy after seeing a Ring advertisement during the Super Bowl.
Q: Was video footage ever shared between Ring and Flock Safety?
No, both companies said that no videos were ever shared. The plan to work together was never put into action.
Q: What were people worried about?
People worried that these companies were helping to watch everyone too much, especially with police using the technology.
Q: What does Ring say about this?
Ring said that people always choose if they want to share their videos and that the partnership was never active.