Security cameras connected to the Internet are just…a terrible idea.
this post was submitted on 13 Feb 2026
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now they do it in secret
Dhs Just take the data from the cloud providers
Plus remember that all data broker information, all of it, is bought by the feds that distribute it to agencies.
Even before that, the NSA revelations showed that the feds would populate their ill gotten information, and half baked conclusions thereof, down to local police in their law enforcement information networks. Not attributed of course, idk how they do it exactly it's pretty secretive we could use some more investigative reporting on LEINs.
But the 4th amendment is in effect dead. Police just use private interests to violate your privacy without warrants or judicial scrutiny, and then parallel construct a legal way of finding that information if they want to use it in court. Judges are chosen to pretend to believe them, which is why the police are so arrogant they lie about executing Pretti and Good despite multiple videos contradicting their testimonies.
Ring calls off public partnership with police surveillance provider Flock Safety
... You can't unring that bell.
👏 slow clap
They'll just do it under the table. Cancel your plans and get something you can record locally and stream yourself. Look into Amcrest with Hubitat or similar setup.
Frigate is good too
Just to add on to this:
Frigate is a open source solution that'll take any RTSP capable camera and give it super powers. All those AI features the companies like Ring and Nest advertise, but locally. Sure, there is a learning curve - but it isn't atrocious. And you'd need local hardware, but if you have a PC you could throw a $110 Coral USB Accelerator and get all this.
I think Frigate also works well with standard video cards nowadays?
Yes, that's the capacity I'm using it in. I don't have the Coral accelerator. I was trying to convey that pretty much any old PC and work for this with that one addon.
Wow they must have really taken a sales dive. Nice.
Ring tried to unshow their hand*
Didn't ring already prove they were permanently recording and storing the data from every ring camera even if the person that bought it doesn't pay for a subscription?
The conspiracy theorists joking/lamenting about how seemingly everyone decided that buying a listening device to put in every room was fine because it had a name, and not long after, the same company known for exploiting its warehouse workers, union busting and general privacy violations brought out the 'build your own panopticon' kit.
They may have done, but if you're referring to the kidnapped woman who's footage was pulled from the backend after they said she didn't have a subscription, she had a Google Nest Camera.
I wouldn't doubt that Amazon does this too but Google is just as bad if not worse.
Didn't ring already prove
That was Google Nest. Though those cameras always gave you 3 hours to watch back footage, even without a subscription.
Didn't ring already prove they were permanently recording and storing the data from every ring camera even if the person that bought it doesn't pay for a subscription?
I have no idea.
I've got most my neighbors to replace expensive doorbells with cheap ones with sd cards and better imaging. They're happy to have spent $50-100 where it pays for itself in a year vs this shit.
Also why my home gym beats my old gym membership. Higher investment up front, better returns. Well done.
Any specific recommendations?
Not really. I bought a Fiet Electric one from Menards (like Home Depot). All my smart devices are on their own VLAN on my home net. Yes it's still online connected for remote viewing, but gives me a little separation and immediate storage/historical access.
I think this is it. I cantt remember, I don't use the doorbell
https://www.feit.com/products/doorbell-smart-wi-fi-camera-with-sd-card-cam-door-wifi-sd
Incoming updated privacy statement
Aside from direct vandalism or persuasion, is there something I can do to combat the Ring cameras on nearly every door in my neighborhood?
I can't think of anything, that's kind of the options isn't it? Buy your neighbors switchbots or reolink cameras as a gift? Them switching by choice is persuasion... forcing them to switch without giving them a choice is vandalism. I can't fathom a 3rd category, unless you can like... sue the hell out of amazon and force a recall, but pretty sure the legal system doesn't work that way.
Build a giant animatronic ring doorbell camera with binoculars that peers into your neighbors homes, wearing a "Hello, my name is Big Brother" sticker?
A little drone with a laser?
What else could work, a smallish drone that lands/hovers near electronics, and kicks in an electromagnet to fry electronics. It could even have a probiscus like a mosquito to concentrate the magnetic force closer to the target.
Aside from asking nicely or doing it yourself, uhhh... do it with magic?
Lasers can break a lot of cameras. Idk strength but even multiple laster pointers were enough to take out some cameras. More powerful ones you get into eye protection problems though. One refraction and you can get permanent damage and you need specialized protection for your eyes to be sure as it's different wavelengths of light than welding type protection that is cheaper because it's more mass produced.
Do we only care while they do it or can we manage to care that they would do it?
They already have been doing it. This is just an upgrade to what they were already doing. Ring cameras were already being used by the police for years.
For now.
Riiiiight 😉😉