Amazon-owned MGM makes viral video show with surveillance footage of Amazon-owned Ring
MGM (which is owned by Amazon) is making a viral video show based on footage from Ring security cameras (also owned by Amazon). The syndicated TV show, "Ring Nation," is set to be a modern, surveillance-tinged take on "America's Funniest Home Videos" with Wanda Sykes as host.
According to an article in Deadline, the show will feature footage from the Ring showing "neighbors rescuing neighbors, marriage proposals, military reunions, and silly animals." Ring has also been known for activities such as accidentally leaking people's home addresses and turning over footage to the government without users' permission.
Between January and July of this year, Amazon shared doorbell ringing footage with US authorities 11 times without the consent of the device owner. Ring has come under fire for working closely with at least 2,200 police departments across the United States, allowing police to request doorbell video camera footage from homeowners through Ring's Neighbors app. Like Citizen and Nextdoor, the Neighbors app tracks local crime and allows users to comment anonymously. Additionally, Ring law enforcement partners can publicly request video footage on the app.
An Amazon-owned police surveillance network is bad enough, but Neighbors users have also faced repeated security issues.
MGM executive Barry Poznick praised the new show: "From the incredible, to the hilarious and uplifting viral moments that are a must-see from around the country every day, Ring Nation offers something for everyone. who looks at home."< /p>
But maybe what viewers at home really want is data privacy.
Ring only began disclosing its ties to law enforcement after responding to requests for transparency from the US government. In a 2019 letter, Sen. Ed Markey (D-MA) said the company's dealings with law enforcement raise civil liberties concerns.
"Integrating Ring's camera network with law enforcement offices could easily create a surveillance network that places a dangerous burden on people of color and fuels racial anxieties in local communities," said writes Senator Markey. "In light of evidence that existing facial recognition technology disproportionately identifies African Americans and Latinos, a product like this has the potential to catalyze racial profiling and harm people of color."
Amazon bought the smart video doorbell company in 2018 for $1 billion, then bought MGM for $8.5 billion earlier this year. Now, these two investments – which apparently have nothing to do with each other – are merging to create a late-capitalist dystopian spectacular that we could not have imagined in our worst nightmares. Amazon also just spent $1.7 billion on iRobot, makers of the Roomba vacuum cleaner, but we dread to imagine how that acquisition could one day inspire a horrifying TV show.
MGM (which is owned by Amazon) is making a viral video show based on footage from Ring security cameras (also owned by Amazon). The syndicated TV show, "Ring Nation," is set to be a modern, surveillance-tinged take on "America's Funniest Home Videos" with Wanda Sykes as host.
According to an article in Deadline, the show will feature footage from the Ring showing "neighbors rescuing neighbors, marriage proposals, military reunions, and silly animals." Ring has also been known for activities such as accidentally leaking people's home addresses and turning over footage to the government without users' permission.
Between January and July of this year, Amazon shared doorbell ringing footage with US authorities 11 times without the consent of the device owner. Ring has come under fire for working closely with at least 2,200 police departments across the United States, allowing police to request doorbell video camera footage from homeowners through Ring's Neighbors app. Like Citizen and Nextdoor, the Neighbors app tracks local crime and allows users to comment anonymously. Additionally, Ring law enforcement partners can publicly request video footage on the app.
An Amazon-owned police surveillance network is bad enough, but Neighbors users have also faced repeated security issues.
MGM executive Barry Poznick praised the new show: "From the incredible, to the hilarious and uplifting viral moments that are a must-see from around the country every day, Ring Nation offers something for everyone. who looks at home."< /p>
But maybe what viewers at home really want is data privacy.
Ring only began disclosing its ties to law enforcement after responding to requests for transparency from the US government. In a 2019 letter, Sen. Ed Markey (D-MA) said the company's dealings with law enforcement raise civil liberties concerns.
"Integrating Ring's camera network with law enforcement offices could easily create a surveillance network that places a dangerous burden on people of color and fuels racial anxieties in local communities," said writes Senator Markey. "In light of evidence that existing facial recognition technology disproportionately identifies African Americans and Latinos, a product like this has the potential to catalyze racial profiling and harm people of color."
Amazon bought the smart video doorbell company in 2018 for $1 billion, then bought MGM for $8.5 billion earlier this year. Now, these two investments – which apparently have nothing to do with each other – are merging to create a late-capitalist dystopian spectacular that we could not have imagined in our worst nightmares. Amazon also just spent $1.7 billion on iRobot, makers of the Roomba vacuum cleaner, but we dread to imagine how that acquisition could one day inspire a horrifying TV show.
What's Your Reaction?
