Amazon drops surveillance-data partner after Ring AI Super Bowl backlash
Amazon has formally terminated a partnership with a surveillance/data-broker company after backlash to a Ring AI feature showcased in its Super Bowl ad, saying it "listened to customer feedback" and will not move forward with the specific cross-camera search capability. Privacy and civil-liberties groups — including Minnesota advocates who criticized the ad — have claimed credit online and called the reversal a precedent against privatized mass surveillance.
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đź“Š Relevant Data
Facial recognition technology exhibits an error rate of 0.8% for light-skinned men, compared to 34.7% for darker-skinned women. ([ACLU of Minnesota](https://www.aclu-mn.org/news/biased-technology-automated-discrimination-facial-recognition)) ([ACLU of Minnesota](https://www.aclu-mn.org/news/biased-technology-automated-discrimination-facial-recognition)) ([ACLU of Minnesota](https://www.aclu-mn.org/news/biased-technology-automated-discrimination-facial-recognition)) ([ACLU of Minnesota](https://www.aclu-mn.org/news/biased-technology-automated-discrimination-facial-recognition)) ([ACLU of Minnesota](https://www.aclu-mn.org/news/biased-technology-automated-discrimination-facial-recognition)) ([ACLU of Minnesota](https://www.aclu-mn.org/news/biased-technology-automated-discrimination-facial-recognition)) ([ACLU of Minnesota](https://www.aclu-mn.org/news/biased-technology-automated-discrimination-facial-recognition)) ([ACLU of Minnesota](https://www.aclu-mn.org/news/biased-technology-automated-discrimination-facial-recognition)) ([ACLU of Minnesota](https://www.aclu-mn.org/news/biased-technology-automated-discrimination-facial-recognition)) ([ACLU of Minnesota](https://www.aclu-mn.org/news/biased-technology-automated-discrimination-facial-recognition))
Biased Technology: The Automated Discrimination of Facial Recognition — ACLU of Minnesota
Surveillance cameras are most prevalent in racially diverse neighborhoods experiencing an influx of white residents, suggesting that white householders may be driving the increase in surveillance. ([Stanford University](https://5harad.com/papers/surveillance-and-diversity.pdf)) ([Stanford University](https://5harad.com/papers/surveillance-and-diversity.pdf)) ([Stanford University](https://5harad.com/papers/surveillance-and-diversity.pdf)) ([Stanford University](https://5harad.com/papers/surveillance-and-diversity.pdf)) ([Stanford University](https://5harad.com/papers/surveillance-and-diversity.pdf)) ([Stanford University](https://5harad.com/papers/surveillance-and-diversity.pdf)) ([Stanford University](https://5harad.com/papers/surveillance-and-diversity.pdf)) ([Stanford University](https://5harad.com/papers/surveillance-and-diversity.pdf)) ([Stanford University](https://5harad.com/papers/surveillance-and-diversity.pdf)) ([Stanford University](https://5harad.com/papers/surveillance-and-diversity.pdf))
Surveillance camera prevalence and racial diversity in ten US cities — Stanford University
Black residents face higher gun homicide rates regardless of socioeconomic status, with rates persisting across income levels due to America's history of racially segregated housing; Blacks comprise about 13% of the U.S. population but experience disproportionately higher exposure to gun violence. ([Penn Today](https://penntoday.upenn.edu/news/regardless-socioeconomic-status-black-communities-face-higher-gun-homicides-says-wharton-study)) ([Penn Today](https://penntoday.upenn.edu/news/regardless-socioeconomic-status-black-communities-face-higher-gun-homicides-says-wharton-study)) ([Penn Today](https://penntoday.upenn.edu/news/regardless-socioeconomic-status-black-communities-face-higher-gun-homicides-says-wharton-study)) ([Penn Today](https://penntoday.upenn.edu/news/regardless-socioeconomic-status-black-communities-face-higher-gun-homicides-says-wharton-study)) ([Penn Today](https://penntoday.upenn.edu/news/regardless-socioeconomic-status-black-communities-face-higher-gun-homicides-says-wharton-study)) ([Penn Today](https://penntoday.upenn.edu/news/regardless-socioeconomic-status-black-communities-face-higher-gun-homicides-says-wharton-study)) ([Penn Today](https://penntoday.upenn.edu/news/regardless-socioeconomic-status-black-communities-face-higher-gun-homicides-says-wharton-study)) ([Penn Today](https://penntoday.upenn.edu/news/regardless-socioeconomic-status-black-communities-face-higher-gun-homicides-says-wharton-study)) ([Penn Today](https://penntoday.upenn.edu/news/regardless-socioeconomic-status-black-communities-face-higher-gun-homicides-says-wharton-study)) ([Penn Today](https://penntoday.upenn.edu/news/regardless-socioeconomic-status-black-communities-face-higher-gun-homicides-says-wharton-study))
Regardless of socioeconomic status, Black communities face higher gun homicides, says Wharton study — Penn Today
CCTV surveillance is associated with a significant and modest decrease in crime, with the largest effects observed in car parks, reducing overall crime by an average of about 13% in monitored areas. ([Office of Justice Programs](https://www.ojp.gov/library/publications/cctv-surveillance-crime-prevention-40-year-systematic-review-meta-analysis)) ([Office of Justice Programs](https://www.ojp.gov/library/publications/cctv-surveillance-crime-prevention-40-year-systematic-review-meta-analysis)) ([Office of Justice Programs](https://www.ojp.gov/library/publications/cctv-surveillance-crime-prevention-40-year-systematic-review-meta-analysis)) ([Office of Justice Programs](https://www.ojp.gov/library/publications/cctv-surveillance-crime-prevention-40-year-systematic-review-meta-analysis)) ([Office of Justice Programs](https://www.ojp.gov/library/publications/cctv-surveillance-crime-prevention-40-year-systematic-review-meta-analysis)) ([Office of Justice Programs](https://www.ojp.gov/library/publications/cctv-surveillance-crime-prevention-40-year-systematic-review-meta-analysis)) ([Office of Justice Programs](https://www.ojp.gov/library/publications/cctv-surveillance-crime-prevention-40-year-systematic-review-meta-analysis)) ([Office of Justice Programs](https://www.ojp.gov/library/publications/cctv-surveillance-crime-prevention-40-year-systematic-review-meta-analysis)) ([Office of Justice Programs](https://www.ojp.gov/library/publications/cctv-surveillance-crime-prevention-40-year-systematic-review-meta-analysis)) ([Office of Justice Programs](https://www.ojp.gov/library/publications/cctv-surveillance-crime-prevention-40-year-systematic-review-meta-analysis))
CCTV Surveillance for Crime Prevention - 40-Year Review — Office of Justice Programs
In 2019, Black individuals accounted for 26.1% of adult arrests in the U.S., despite comprising approximately 13% of the population, indicating overrepresentation in arrest rates compared to Whites who accounted for 69.9% of arrests while comprising about 60% of the population. ([FBI Uniform Crime Reporting](https://ucr.fbi.gov/crime-in-the-u.s/2019/crime-in-the-u.s.-2019/topic-pages/tables/table-43)) ([FBI Uniform Crime Reporting](https://ucr.fbi.gov/crime-in-the-u.s/2019/crime-in-the-u.s.-2019/topic-pages/tables/table-43)) ([FBI Uniform Crime Reporting](https://ucr.fbi.gov/crime-in-the-u.s/2019/crime-in-the-u.s.-2019/topic-pages/tables/table-43)) ([FBI Uniform Crime Reporting](https://ucr.fbi.gov/crime-in-the-u.s/2019/crime-in-the-u.s.-2019/topic-pages/tables/table-43)) ([FBI Uniform Crime Reporting](https://ucr.fbi.gov/crime-in-the-u.s/2019/crime-in-the-u.s.-2019/topic-pages/tables/table-43)) ([FBI Uniform Crime Reporting](https://ucr.fbi.gov/crime-in-the-u.s/2019/crime-in-the-u.s.-2019/topic-pages/tables/table-43)) ([FBI Uniform Crime Reporting](https://ucr.fbi.gov/crime-in-the-u.s/2019/crime-in-the-u.s.-2019/topic-pages/tables/table-43)) ([FBI Uniform Crime Reporting](https://ucr.fbi.gov/crime-in-the-u.s/2019/crime-in-the-u.s.-2019/topic-pages/tables/table-43)) ([FBI Uniform Crime Reporting](https://ucr.fbi.gov/crime-in-the-u.s/2019/crime-in-the-u.s.-2019/topic-pages/tables/table-43)) ([FBI Uniform Crime Reporting](https://ucr.fbi.gov/crime-in-the-u.s/2019/crime-in-the-u.s.-2019/topic-pages/tables/table-43))
Crime in the United States 2019 - Table 43 — FBI Uniform Crime Reporting
đź“Ś Key Facts
- Amazon has formally terminated its partnership with a surveillance/data‑broker company whose technology underpinned the AI "neighborhood camera" feature promoted in its Super Bowl ad.
- Amazon said in a public statement it "listened to customer feedback" and will not move forward with deploying the specific cross‑camera search capability that triggered the backlash.
- The decision came after heavy criticism and public backlash to the Super Bowl ad highlighting the AI neighborhood‑camera feature.
- Privacy‑rights and civil‑liberties groups, including Minnesota advocates who had criticized the ad, are claiming credit for the reversal.
- Those groups are calling Amazon's move a precedent for resisting privatized mass‑surveillance deals.
đź“° Source Timeline (2)
Follow how coverage of this story developed over time
- Amazon has formally terminated its partnership with a surveillance/data‑broker company whose technology underpinned the AI neighborhood‑camera feature promoted in the Super Bowl ad.
- The company issued a public statement saying it "listened to customer feedback" and will not move forward with deployment of the specific cross‑camera search capability that triggered the backlash.
- Privacy‑rights and civil‑liberties groups, including some Minnesota advocates who had criticized the Super Bowl ad, are claiming credit online and calling the reversal a precedent for resisting privatized mass‑surveillance deals.