Privacy and Ring doorbell: what’s the deal?
Ring offers several products to make your home safer. This brand is part of Amazon. One of the most famous products in the range is the Ring Video Doorbell. With this modern doorbell you can see what is happening at your front door wherever you are. But what about privacy? What is and what is not allowed to display? You can read it in this article.
Why is a Ring doorbell useful?
With a Ring doorbell you can easily see what is happening around your home via the accompanying app, for example when you are at work or on holiday. You can use the full Ring experience for an amount of 10 euros per month per address.
The camera of the modern doorbell does not happen 24 hours a day and 7 days a week. The camera will only turn on when there is movement in front of the doorbell. It is also possible to adjust settings via the app. The battery is removable and easy to replace.
Privacy watchdog warns!
The Dutch Data Protection Authority has announced that doorbells with a built-in camera may not be hung just anywhere. For example, you are not allowed to take pictures of the public road or of your neighbours. Do you do this? Then that is a serious privacy violation. In the municipality of Almere, free smart doorbells were distributed to residents. The Dutch Data Protection Authority considers this action unacceptable. If more surveillance is needed via video, the municipality should install more cameras instead of handing out doorbells with cameras.
What is allowed and what is not allowed?
When you want to protect your property, it is wise to choose a way that infringes the least on your own privacy and that of others. This line sounds a bit unclear and it is. Every situation is different and it is therefore difficult to estimate what is allowed and what is not. To make it less vague, below are some examples of what is and is not allowed. Here too, there are exceptions.
| What is allowed? | What is not allowed? |
| The video camera to see who is at your door | Save images (for a longer period of time) or use them for face recognition |
| Camera aimed at your property to prevent vandalism | Camera of the bell aimed at the public road |
| Film your front door if your video doorbell has a sticker | Filming privacy zones |
