Ring scraps Flock Safety deal after privacy outcry over licence plate tracking
Ring has cancelled its planned partnership with Flock Safety, a company specialising in licence plate reading technology. The decision follows weeks of customer backlash over privacy concerns, particularly after a Super Bowl commercial highlighted Ring's surveillance capabilities.
Both companies described the split as mutual, citing unexpected challenges in integrating their systems.
The controversy began when Ring aired a Super Bowl advert for a pet-finding feature. Viewers quickly raised concerns about broader surveillance implications, especially regarding the planned integration with Flock's licence plate readers. Social media criticism grew in the weeks leading up to the announcement, with users questioning the partnership's privacy risks.
A viral post on X falsely claimed that US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) could access Ring cameras. While the claim was untrue, it led at least one subscriber to cancel their service. Separately, reports linked Flock's technology to immigration investigations, fuelling further unease.
Ring and Flock later confirmed that the integration would demand far more time and resources than originally expected. Neither company has ties to ICE, but Ring has faced long-standing scrutiny over its collaborations with law enforcement. The decision to end the partnership came after sustained public pressure and technical hurdles.
The cancellation leaves Ring's Community Requests feature without Flock's licence plate tracking. Customers had already expressed discomfort over the proposed expansion of surveillance tools. The move follows broader debates about privacy and law enforcement partnerships in the US.
