I thought that after writing two articles about the dangers of purchasing Ring doorbells, there could not possibly be anything else to warn people about, but boy was I mistaken.

Big Brother has found a new way to spread fear and paranoia to neighborhoods.

Besides using the obvious, like equipping homes with facial recognition doorbells and creating neighborhood watchlists, Ring is taking it up a notch.

Not much was made of Ring’s acquisition of Mr.Beams lights last year, a fact that I also overlooked.

The above video, explains how Ring plans to spread fear by creating a network of spying walk lights and flood lights called Ring Beams.

Ring’s press release is a little more revealing,

“David, Mike, and the whole Mr. Beams team have built a strong business and created a line of impressive technologies and patents around what we believe is the future of outdoor security lighting. This, coupled with our shared commitment to reducing crime in neighborhoods, makes Mr. Beams a perfect fit for Ring. The Mr. Beams team and the Ring family are already hard at work focusing on making neighborhoods safer.”

Does anyone really think that creating a “Ring” of spying walk lights, flood lights and doorbells around one’s home will make their neighborhood safer? (Pun intended)
 

“The Ring Bridge lets you group together Ring Smart Lights and connect them to Ring doorbells and cameras and select Alexa-enabled devices through the Ring App.”

A recent article in The Appeal said it best, the war on terror and drugs is big business and what better way to stoke one’s fears than by spying on your neighbors.

“Violent crime in the U.S. is at its lowest rate in decades. But you wouldn’t know it if you use one of the increasingly popular social media apps that stoke fears of crime to gain a user base. Apps like Nextdoor, Citizen, and Ring’s Neighbors —are some of the most downloaded social and news apps in the U.S.”

WMTV 15 revealed how law enforcement plans to help spread fear to neighborhoods; send them crime and safety alerts.

“Neighbors is a technological version of a neighborhood watch. It provides crime and safety alerts from the community and law enforcement. This application will save us time and help keep our citizens informed of what’s happening in their neighborhoods.” Sheriff David Mahoney said.

Vast network of neighborhood Ring cameras amazes police

(approx. 50 seconds into video)

How it works:

• Text “danecountywi” to 555-888 or click here from your smartphone to download the app for free on iOS and Android.
• Opt-in to join your neighborhood.
• Customize the geographic area you want to receive notifications for
• Receive alerts that inform of crime and safety posts via a live feed or interactive map
• Share text updates, photos, and videos taken on any device, including Ring’s home security devices

What kind of crazy, screwed up world do we live in? A world where law enforcement encourages neighbors to live in a constant state of fear and spy on each other is not the America most of us want.

Ring has cornered the market on profiting from people’s fears and they are pretty good at innuendos.

Apparently, they do not have a problem with treating our privacy like a little fish that is being swallowed by a larger corporate fish.

Are Ring customers so gullible that they believe that installing surveillance cameras all around their property will make their neighborhood safer?  If you value your privacy and don’t want your neighborhood turned into a mini-surveillance center, then please contact “BIGfish” Meredith Chiricosta and let her know.