Ring cameras offer broad capabilities, but third-party AI tools give HOAs, landlords and others even more ways to use them.
I’ve spent plenty of time talking about Ring’s latest features, including cutting-edge uses of AI and capabilities including facial recognition, which have led to lawsuits by some worried about their privacy. But behind the scenes, Ring has been busy supporting a sizable platform of third-party AI apps for its security cameras and video doorbells, with capabilities that go far beyond those of traditional security cams. That could present an opportunity or a potential privacy issue, so I took a closer look.
Basically, this software leverages Ring’s object recognition ability to use it for a wider range of monitoring possibilities. I’m trying out some of these apps to see just how they work, but if you or people in your neighborhood use Ring devices, you should know what they’re capable of. These mini apps range from casual fun to Flock-like levels of surveillance. Most require a Ring subscription and an additional monthly fee, typically a few dollars. Here are popular examples of those apps, how they work, if they’re legal and what they could be doing in your neighborhood.
For those annoyed by illegal trash dumping or other waste violations, the DumpWatch app promises to watch for trash miscreants using Ring’s AI for about $8 per month. The app records footage whenever it detects large amounts of waste being left in the camera’s field of view and creates a timestamped PDF that can be used to submit a complaint or file a police report.
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