Amazon’s Ring division has reintroduced a system for law enforcement to request video footage from Ring users with new partnerships with Flock Safety and Axon. The expansion is part of Ring’s Community Requests feature in the Ring Neighbors app.
Local public safety agencies verified by Axon or Flock can submit a community request specifying a location and timeframe. The request appears in the Neighbors feed for nearby users, who can choose whether to share footage. Video submitted goes directly to Axon Evidence for verification, and Ring says users remain anonymous if they ignore the request.
Only local and county entities—not federal agencies—can create Community Requests. The localized area for requests is limited to half a square mile. Amazon hinted that more partnerships may be added to expand this system.
Privacy concerns remain, as footage could include neighbors or passersby not involved in incidents. Experts recommend transparency regarding how videos are used, stored, or shared. Proponents argue that Community Requests can help law enforcement gather evidence more efficiently given stretched resources.
