Would you let your AI make split second military or law enforcement decisions? Here’s why you shouldn’t, in 60 seconds.
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Use a Ring doorbell cam? You can opt out of sending videos straight to police
Concerned about privacy? You’re not alone. More people are raising eyebrows about who has access to their data, especially when it comes to surveillance cameras like Ring doorbells. The idea of your Ring videos being shared with law enforcement can be unsettling for some.
Now, Ring has partnerships with many police departments through its “Neighbors” app. This platform allows users to share video clips and receive local crime updates. But if you’re looking to opt out of Ring’s police partnerships, here’s how you can go about it:
Via the Ring App:
1. Open the Ring app on your smartphone.
2. Tap the three horizontal lines in the top left corner to access the main menu.
3. Choose Control Center from the list.
4. Find the section labeled Community Control and tap on it.
5. Tap on Video Requests. Here, you’ll see a list of police departments that could request video from your Ring devices.
6. Flip the toggle to turn off sharing. This will opt you out of receiving future video requests from local law enforcement.
Via the Neighbors App:
If you’re using the Neighbors app by Ring:
1. Open the Neighbors app.
2. Tap your profile icon in the top left corner.
3. Tap on Settings.
4. Select Privacy Settings.
5. Find Law Enforcement Requests and toggle it off.
Remember, even if you turn off these features, it won’t remove any previously shared videos or automatically decline any active requests; you must do that manually. Also, this doesn’t stop law enforcement from contacting you directly; it only prevents them from doing so through the Ring/Neighbors platform.
Stay vigilant, protect your privacy and remember — you’re in the driver’s seat when it comes to your data.
Did eagle-eyed internet sleuths solve a murder?
Over the years, the internet has become a meeting place for would-be crime solvers. They gather on forums, Facebook and Reddit combing through clues and motives. And they’re often right in their hypothesis, helping law enforcement with convictions.
Working the system: Cybercriminals are using hacked government and law enforcement email addresses to request customer data from Big Tech companies. Police usually need a search warrant for files and messages, but for basic details like phone numbers, login credentials and approximate locations, a request is all it takes.
Operation Cookie Monster brought down a massive hacker marketplace - See if your info was there
Scammers never run out of tricks, and this one’s a doozy: They’re using AI to impersonate you. Here’s why you need to change your voicemail setting right now.
Getting ahold of your voice is one thing, but once a hacker gets into your computer, they can wreak all sorts of havoc and truly ruin your life.
Check fraud is skyrocketing - How to protect yourself
Cybercriminals often use sophisticated technology to trick people into giving up their personal details or banking information. But some crooks prefer using older, less technologically advanced methods that still work. Tap or click for more information about an Amazon phishing scheme stealing passwords.
Feature or bug? Criminals’ iPhones are rebooting on their own when seized by the cops, and it’s all tied to a recent iOS 18 security update. Law enforcement is calling it a nightmare when it comes to retrieving evidence. Here’s the issue: When the phone reboots, it defaults to a “Before First Unlock” state. Even if police use third-party tools to try to access the data, they can only get limited information. No word yet on a fix.
A long road ahead: An Arkansas father faces first-degree murder charges after shooting a man he found with his missing 14-year-old daughter — a 60-something former Indiana police chief with a history of internet stalking and sexual assault against minors. Dad is now out on bail and raising money for his legal defense.
It’s a scam: On Facebook, posts are popping up asking you to share photos of missing kids or folks in need. The goal is to get a ton of shares, and then the posts are edited to include malicious links. Spot the fakes: If it’s a real story, local news or law enforcement accounts will post about it, too.
⚠️ Airbnb’s known about its hidden-camera problem for at least a decade: In a court-ordered deposition, an employee revealed when a guest complains about a hidden cam, Airbnb doesn’t notify law enforcement, even if a child is involved. They contact the host, settle out of court and make folks sign NDAs to keep it hush-hush. Think about that the next time you want to book an Airbnb.
Oh, snap: TJX, the parent company of T.J. Maxx, HomeGoods and Marshalls, is strapping body cameras on employees. After a year of testing, they’re hoping the cams stop shoplifters. They say only law enforcement or legal reps with a subpoena can view the footage.
Dead man walking: On the dark web, Incognito Market sold illegal drugs, firearms and more. Its owner said everything was anonymous. Nope. He closed it down and is threatening to hand over all buyers’ and sellers’ names to law enforcement — unless they pay him a ransom. His biggest customers? Drug cartels.
The federal government is reaching out. This time it's not a scam!
Scammers use every trick imaginable to get you to hand over personal details or banking information. A common favorite is to impersonate a government agency or law enforcement officials. Tap or click here to learn how hackers use this trick.
Grandma conned out of $25K helps catch the criminals behind it
Seniors are often the target of scams, where criminals use a sense of urgency to con grandparents out of thousands of dollars. One of the scams seniors fall for most is the fake arrest of a grandchild.
Read on for details on this devious scam and how one grandma fought back.
This phone scam cost a victim $12K - don't fall for it
It’s always good to remind yourself that scams are just around the corner, waiting for you to drop your guard. Even if you get a phone call from someone you trust, it’s better to be safe at the moment than regret it afterward. Tap or click here for five surefire phrases you’re talking to a scammer on the phone.
In the wake of the Texas school shooting, social media must do better
The tragic mass shooting at Robb Elementary School in Uvalde, Texas highlights an issue we’ve come across before and it doesn’t seem to go away: Social media is shirking its responsibility in mass shootings and other tragedies. Social media has to make changes, and you and I can force them to do it.
Teenager takes his own life after vicious scam - Talk to your kids now
Scammers are everywhere, and they have no compassion for who they target or the damage it causes. Their evil behavior was again thrust into the limelight as a teen committed suicide after falling victim to a scam.
California resident Ryan Last struck up an online conversation with someone he believed to be a girl. The back-and-forth text messages continued until past midnight on a weekday. By early morning, he had taken his own life.
If you hear this sound, someone could be tracking you
There are few things more frustrating than when you reach for your car or house keys, only to find that they are not where they are supposed to be. You usually end up in a frantic search, even looking in places you know they won’t be.
Teenage hackers trick Facebook and Apple into giving up data - Are you at risk?
You’d think the titans of Big Tech would run backup checks on anyone demanding private user data. But last year, we learned just how easy it is to pull the wool over a company’s eyes. A gang of mysterious hackers forged legal requests to trick Google and Meta into sharing user addresses, phone numbers and more.
Did you get a spam text from your OWN number? You're not alone
Spam comes in various forms, with the most popular choice of criminals being phishing emails and text messages. Unsolicited communication is usually easy to spot as the number won’t be in your contacts. Tap or click here to stop junk text messages and spam for good.