Class Action Filed Against Amazon Over Ring's Unconsented Facial Recognition Data Collection

A class action lawsuit filed in Seattle alleges that Amazon’s Ring Familiar Faces feature stores facial images of passersby without their knowledge or consent, in violation of biometric privacy laws. The plaintiff claims Ring is enrolling third parties — people who have not agreed to any Ring terms of service — into facial recognition databases based solely on appearing in a homeowner’s camera view. Ring’s Familiar Faces feature is available to subscribers and enables homeowners to identify recurring individuals. The case may draw regulatory scrutiny around biometric data collection in consumer IoT security devices.