Amazon has officially rolled out the "Familiar Faces" AI facial recognition feature to compatible Ring doorbells and cameras. Users can create a "Familiar Faces Library" of up to 50 people within the app, after which the doorbell will no longer send general "someone is here" notifications, but instead show personalized alerts like "Mom at Front Door." The feature is turned off by default and needs to be manually enabled. It is initially available for users aged 18+ in the United States.
Feature Overview: Upload → Name → Get Notified
- Build the Library: Take a screenshot or upload a photo within the app → name it → complete registration; the system will automatically match the same face when it appears again.
- Personalized Notifications: Custom names will appear in push notifications, timelines, and event history. You can set individual preferences for "mute" or "ring."
- Data Security: Amazon claims all facial vectors are encrypted and stored in the cloud. Unnamed faces will be automatically deleted after 30 days, and the data is not used to train AI models.
Privacy Controversy: No Consent Required vs. Regulatory Exemption
- No Consent Required: Anyone captured by the camera, including passersby, delivery personnel, or neighbors, will be scanned and cannot opt out. The Electronic Frontier Foundation (EFF) states this violates biometric privacy laws in multiple regions.
- Regulatory Gap: Illinois, Texas, and Portland, Oregon have laws explicitly banning facial recognition without opt-in, and Amazon has confirmed that the feature is unavailable in these areas.
- Legislative Backlash: On October 31, Senator Ed Markey wrote to Amazon demanding the removal of the feature, emphasizing that "ordinary people should not be added to a biometric database just because they walk past their front door."
Security History: $5.8 Million Fine + Data Leak Record
- FTC Fine: In 2023, Ring was fined $5.8 million for allowing employees unrestricted access to user videos and for the Neighbors app leaking precise addresses.
- Dark Web: User passwords were widely circulated on the dark web, increasing concerns about potential leaks of facial vectors.
Security Tips: Default Off + Minimal Naming
- Default Setting: The feature is turned off by default and requires a second confirmation to activate. You can delete individual faces or the entire library at any time.
- EFF Advice:
① Only name necessary family members, avoid adding external individuals like delivery personnel.
② Regularly check the "Event History" to remove incorrectly recorded faces.
③ If you are concerned about leaks, keep the feature disabled and only use traditional "human detection."
Next Steps: 4K Devices First + Legal Challenges
- Hardware Compatibility: Ring Video Doorbell Plus (2K) and Wired Doorbell Pro 4K will be pre-installed first, with updates starting in December.
- Legal Action: Illinois users have filed a class-action lawsuit, accusing "Familiar Faces" of violating BIPA's opt-in requirements. The case could become a benchmark for facial recognition compliance across the U.S.
Editorial Conclusion
