Ring's New Community App: A Recipe for Surveillance State Tendencies?

Amazon's subsidiary Ring is launching a new community app called Neighbours in the UK next month. The app will replace traditional neighbourhood groups on platforms like Facebook and WhatsApp, aiming to create a more centrally managed space for residents to connect.

The app will be available inside the Ring app and will include a feature that allows police to request footage from residents near reported crimes. However, users can choose whether or not to share their footage with authorities.

Ring's managing director of international, Dave Ward, stated that the company wants to 'coach' users on creating the right type of post, encouraging them to think before posting and helping to prevent unwanted content.

However, critics argue that this approach may stifle the rough edges of online communities, which can be both annoying and beneficial. Neighbourhood WhatsApp groups have been known to harbour negativity, racism, and xenophobia, but they also provide a space for residents to connect and help each other out in times of need.

The author of the article, Imogen West-Knights, recounts her own experience with neighbourhood WhatsApp groups, which can be both a blessing and a curse. She notes that while these groups can provide moments of kindness and connection, they also often descend into nonsense and petty squabbles.