Amazon Ring Doorbell Privacy & Unauthorized Surveillance Settlement
Case Overview
The Federal Trade Commission filed a complaint against Ring LLC, a subsidiary of Amazon, in May 2023, alleging that the company gave its employees and third-party contractors in Ukraine unrestricted access to customers' private video footage—including footage from inside their homes—without their knowledge or consent. The FTC further alleged that Ring failed to implement adequate security measures, allowing hackers to take over accounts and, in some cases, to harass and threaten customers through their own doorbell cameras and indoor devices.
Ring agreed to a settlement totaling $5.8 million without admitting wrongdoing. Roughly $5.6 million of that amount was used to provide refunds to approximately 55,000 affected customers, with individual payouts averaging around $100. The settlement also required Ring to delete data and models illegally derived from customer videos and to implement a comprehensive privacy and security program. Claim submissions are now closed, and refund checks were distributed to eligible customers in 2024.
Who May Qualify
Customers who purchased and used a Ring indoor camera device between 2019 and 2023 and whose video footage was accessed without authorization. Eligible consumers were directly notified by the FTC claims administrator.
Frequently Asked Questions
Did Ring employees actually watch people's private home videos?
According to the FTC's complaint, yes. The agency alleged that Ring gave employees and Ukraine-based contractors broad access to customers' private camera footage, including footage from cameras placed inside bedrooms and bathrooms, without customers' knowledge or consent.
Can I still file a claim in the Ring settlement?
No. The claims deadline for the Ring FTC settlement has passed, and refunds have already been distributed to eligible customers. If you were affected but did not receive a notice or refund, you can contact the FTC or the claims administrator for more information.
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