The Product
Ring, owned by Amazon, makes Video Doorbells, which are widely used doorstep-monitoring cameras. Ring doorbells released in 2021 or newer are eligible for the bounty. This includes the Ring Wired Doorbell Pro (gen 3), as well as its battery and power-over-ethernet equivalents. This also includes post-2021 refreshes of other models, and the upcoming Ring Video Elite.
The Problem
People who own security cameras bought them to make their homes more secure. But without control of the video those cameras generate, Ring owners might actually be making them less so.
Ring has come under fire multiple times for their data practices. Most recently, the company’s Super Bowl ad touting it’s new Search Party feature received widespread blowback, leading the company to end it’s partnership with Flock. In 2024, Ring reached a $5.6 million settlement after an FTC complaint alleged that the company gave all of its employees full access to any customer video. The complaint also alleged that Ring failed to patch known cybersecurity vulnerabilities that led to an estimated 55,000 customers being exposed to significant account compromises.
Ring doorbell owners do not have the option to store their video locally or stop the flow of data to Amazon’s servers.
The Solution
The bounty can be won by any eligible person who makes a software/firmware modification to a Ring doorbell that meets the following criteria:
- The device, once modified, can be directly integrated with a local PC or server, either through wi-fi, or a direct physical connection. Ideally, the solution should allow for user-friendly Home Assistant integration.
- The device, once modified, no longer sends data to Amazon servers or requires connection to amazon hardware to function.
- Any features enabled by on-device hardware, such as motion detecting or color night-vision capabilities, should remain functional.
- The modification may involve the replacement or addition of up to two circuit-board components.
- The modification must be able to be be carried out with readily available and inexpensive tooling.
- The modification must come with instructions that a moderately technical user could carry out. The creator must be able to follow the instructions and carry out the process in one hour or less.
- The modification must work on at least one model of Ring doorbell, released in 2021 or later.
- The submitter and modification must also meet the general bounty terms listed here.
To submit a solution, please first ensure that you have met all listed criteria and then contact the bounty team at [email protected].
This bounty will expire on 31st December 2031, after which all contributors will be given the option to have their donation refunded, or to donate it to FULU, if no-one has submitted a successful solution.