John,
It happened again---for the second time Amazon’s Neighbors app leaked home addresses and users' precise locations. 1
Tell Congress to investigate Amazon’s insecure surveillance network.
The security bug on Neighbors allowed hidden location data to be retrieved for any of the over 10 million users posting on the neighborhood surveillance app. This isn’t an isolated incident. Over a year ago Gizmodo found a similar issue and created a map showing the location of thousands of Amazon Ring users across the country. 2,3
This poses an incredible danger. We know hackers took advantage of insecure Ring devices to threaten and harass customers including an 8 year old girl. Imagine what could happen when bad actors are able to locate and target families via Neighbors app. 4
We can’t continue to be sitting ducks waiting for something bad to happen before Amazon begins to care about keeping people safe. Congress needs to act.
Demand lawmakers investigate the threats Amazon’s surveillance dragnet poses to our loved ones and our communities.
TAKE ACTION
While Amazon’s devices threaten the safety of their users, their ever-expanding surveillance empire puts us all at risk.
With millions of Ring users in neighborhoods across the country, we are all bound to be caught on tape at one point or another. Whether it’s driving down the street, walking our dogs, or playing with our kids in the front yard, Amazon Ring records it all. 5
From this footage, Amazon can capture your car’s license plate and access information about your vehicle, or they can detect your face, quickly determining your identity. The scary thing isn’t just that Amazon has this information but what they can do with it. We already know that Amazon shares footage with the cops. Any of the over 1,700 police departments partnered with Amazon could use footage to monitor and track you. 6
We’ve been sounding the alarm on the negative impact of Amazon’s surveillance network on privacy and civil liberties. But as the network continues to grow, the security and safety of our families and neighbors are more and more in jeopardy.
And that’s terrifying on a whole other level. Congress needs to intervene now and address Amazon’s rapidly spreading surveillance empire.
For surveillance-free,
Ayele, Fight for the Future
Footnotes:
1. TechCrunch. https://techcrunch.com/2021/01/14/ring-neighbors-exposed-locations-addresses/
2. USA Today. https://www.usatoday.com/story/tech/2021/01/14/ring-neighbors-app-exposed-users-home-addresses-due-security-flaw/4159300001/
3. Gizmodo. https://gizmodo.com/ring-s-hidden-data-let-us-map-amazons-sprawling-home-su-1840312279
4. The Guardian. https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2020/dec/23/amazon-ring-camera-hack-lawsuit-threats
5. VICE. https://www.vice.com/en/article/qvyvzd/amazons-home-security-company-is-turning-everyone-into-cops
6. Amazon Ring Map. https://www.google.com/maps/d/viewer?mid=1eYVDPh5itXq5acDT9b0BVeQwmESBa4cB&ll=36.19459170250794,-103.96982876449249&z=4
Fight for the Future works to protect your rights in the digital age.
