Amazon and Flock Safety have ended their partnership, a decision made after Amazon faced significant backlash for a Super Bowl ad that many found disturbing. The ad, which promoted a new "Search Party" feature for Ring cameras to help locate missing pets, sparked outrage and prompted the company to sever ties with Flock Safety, a move that came after the ad's release.
The ad, which began with a young girl receiving a puppy, highlighted the issue of missing dogs, stating that 10 million go missing annually. It then introduced the Search Party feature, which allows neighbors to collaborate using Ring cameras to find lost pets. However, the ad's tone and the implications of increased surveillance were criticized.
This decision comes as Verizon implemented a new roadblock for customers seeking to unlock their phones after paying off device installment plans early. According to Ars Technica, the new policy imposes a 35-day waiting period for unlocks when payments are made online, through the Verizon app, or at authorized retailers. Immediate unlocks are only available by paying off the device plan at a Verizon corporate store.
The partnership between Ring and Flock Safety would have given law enforcement access to a vast network of Ring cameras. However, the controversy surrounding the Super Bowl ad, coupled with existing concerns about Ring's Community Requests program, which still runs through a major Department of Homeland Security contractor, Axon, raised further questions. According to The Verge, this raises concerns about the company's approach to privacy and data sharing.
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