Ring just announced that it will be removing its Request for Assistance (RFA) tool from its Neighbors app as part of a new update. This means that Public safety agencies like fire and police departments can no longer use the feature to request and receive video in the app. This is a surprising reversal on a tool that has been a major point of contention for Ring since it was released in 2021.
Ring has been scaling back its involvement with law enforcement agencies over the years due to privacy concerns. Prior to 2021, police were able to submit a request to Ring to review footage from the company's cameras; Ring would then pass on the request to homeowners in the vicinity, who could then choose to share their video if they wanted.
