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| A screenshot from the Super Bowl ad that triggered a new wave of criticism. |
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| The new feature can use AI to track and locate pets in a neighborhood |
Following a Super Bowl ad that sparked fresh outcry over its AI tracking capabilities, Ring has officially scrapped its planned integration with security firm Flock Safety.
In a sudden reversal, Ring, the Amazon-owned security camera giant, has canceled its planned integration with Flock Safety, just months after announcing the partnership aimed at bolstering neighborhood security. The decision, made public on February 12, 2026, comes on the heels of significant public backlash intensified by a new Super Bowl commercial.
The now-defunct plan, first announced in October 2025, would have allowed police forces to request private video footage from Ring users directly through Flock Safety's evidence-gathering system. However, in a brief statement, Ring cited unforeseen challenges, stating the integration "would require significantly more time and resources than anticipated." The company was keen to emphasize that because the feature never launched, "no Ring customer videos were ever sent to Flock Safety."
The Super Bowl Ad That Changed Everything
The timing of the cancellation is critical. It follows the airing of a high-profile Super Bowl commercial for a new Ring feature called Search Party. The ad depicted a heartwarming scene where an AI system successfully locates a missing dog by scanning a vast network of neighborhood Ring cameras.
While intended to showcase the helpful potential of technology, the advertisement backfired spectacularly. For many viewers, it visually articulated a deeply unsettling concept: a pervasive, AI-powered surveillance grid capable of tracking every movement of people and pets across entire neighborhoods. This stark visualization of mass surveillance amplified existing privacy fears and put immense public pressure on the company, directly linking the "helpful" feature to the dystopian potential of its technology.
What the Cancellation Means for Police Requests
Although the Search Party feature is technically separate from the now-canceled Flock Safety integration, the public outcry over real-time AI tracking created an untenable atmosphere for the partnership to proceed. In their announcement, Ring reinforced that its mission remains "to make neighborhoods safer" but acknowledged the "significant responsibility" that comes with it.
Crucially, this cancellation does not eliminate all forms of police involvement. The long-standing Community Requests function will remain active. This feature allows law enforcement agencies to post public requests for video assistance related to active investigations. However, participation remains entirely voluntary. Ring users maintain complete control and can choose to share specific clips or ignore the request altogether, with every request posted publicly for transparency.
In their blog post, Ring highlighted a recent success story involving this feature, noting that after a shooting near Brown University in December 2025, a Community Request led seven neighbors to share 168 videos, which helped police identify a suspect's vehicle and solve the case.
The Future of Neighborhood Surveillance
The episode underscores a growing tension between security tech companies and public sentiment regarding privacy. While features like Community Requests offer a voluntary, transparent way for neighbors to assist law enforcement, the prospect of always-on, AI-driven tracking—as depicted in the Super Bowl ad—crosses a line for many consumers.
Flock Safety, which specializes in using AI and license plate recognition for its own security solutions, has not commented extensively on the cancellation beyond acknowledging the joint decision. For consumers, the incident serves as a reminder of the trade-offs inherent in connected devices. As Ring cameras, which start at around $40 on Amazon, become ubiquitous, the debate over where to draw the line between safety and surveillance is only just beginning. Ring has stated it will "continue to carefully evaluate future partnerships to ensure they align with our standards for customer trust, safety, and privacy."
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| Ring offers security cameras and doorbells like the one show here. |