- Ring will make its new TAKE encryption the default as the feature rolls out from September.
- TAKE gives Ring temporary access to video keys for some cloud features, then deletes those keys.
- Ring says the change gives customers more control while keeping features that end-to-end encryption can limit.
Ring is taking a new way to protect video as concerns about home surveillance continue to grow. The Amazon-owned camera company announced TAKE, which stands for “Throw Away the Key Encryption,” on August 26.
Ring says the system will roll out in stages from September. It will become the default way to encrypt video for all Ring customers worldwide when the rollout is complete. End-to-end encryption, or E2EE, will remain an option.
The move follows months of concern over how Ring cameras can expand surveillance. For Ring, the timing is also important. That makes privacy a bigger issue. Home cameras are now common, and public concern has grown as more firms link cameras, apps and police tools.
Super Bowl Ad Raises Surveillance Concern
Ring faced criticism after its Super Bowl ad in February promoted Search Party, an AI tool that helps find lost pets. The ad showed Ring cameras helping find a missing dog. Critics said the ad raised fears about camera networks watching public spaces.
Days later, Ring and Flock Safety ended a planned deal. The companies said the deal never launched and no Ring user data went to Flock. The move came after public concern about the planned link.
Now Ring wants its new data lock system to show customers they have more control over their recordings.
How Ring’s TAKE Encryption Works
TAKE protects Ring videos with unique keys that change often. Ring says a copy of each key can stay for a short time inside a secure cloud area called a secure enclave.
Ring can access a key only under set conditions. It uses the key to run active smart features on a customer’s account. Ring then deletes the key. Approved shared users keep the keys on their enrolled devices.
This differs from end-to-end encryption. With E2EE, only enrolled devices hold the keys needed to open recordings. Ring cannot access the video itself. But E2EE also limits some cloud and shared-user features.
TAKE is meant to keep more Ring features while giving users more control over stored video. Ring says its new system uses rotating keys and a secure cloud enclave. The company says the system lets it offer features such as Smart Alerts without keeping long-term access to customer video.
TAKE is not the same as full E2EE. With E2EE, Ring does not hold a usable key. With TAKE, Ring can gain temporary access under set conditions, then delete the key.
Police Access Remains a Key Issue
The new system also matters because of Ring’s long history with police. Ring says police do not get direct access to customer accounts or cameras. Its Community Requests system lets police agencies ask users to share footage. Customers can ignore requests or choose what to share.
Ring can also receive legal government demands for data. Its law enforcement guidelines say the company may respond to valid legal requests when the law requires it.
TAKE is meant to limit what Ring can provide from encrypted video after Ring deletes the key. The company says it cannot hand over video that it can no longer open. Police can still seek other data that Ring holds. Users can also choose to share footage. Encryption does not remove that choice.
German police agencies have bought location data from commercial brokers, bypassing court approval required for traditional tracking. Privacy officials are auditing the practice, while legal experts question its legality and lack of a clear legal basis.
Why the Change Matters
Ring first offered video E2EE in 2021 for customers who wanted more control over recordings. The feature remains available.
But E2EE has trade-offs. Ring says shared users and cloud features are not available when E2EE is enabled. Core features such as live view, playback, and video sharing still work.
TAKE aims to give most users stronger protection without making them give up as many features. That balance may help Ring as it works to rebuild trust.
The privacy debate extends beyond Ring customers. People can appear in a doorbell video when they pass a home, visit a friend, or walk up to a business. They may not know a camera recorded them. Encryption cannot stop a camera from recording someone. It can change who can open the recording later.
Ring is betting that this change will matter to customers and to people who live around them. The company says TAKE will roll out in stages beginning in September. Following its launch, it will be the new standard for video encryption around the globe.
For people who want full encryption of their videos, there is always an option to enable it. For Ring, there is only one objective: to protect privacy in practice, not in theory.
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About the Author
Rebecca James is an IT consultant with forward thinking approach toward developing IT infrastructures of SMEs. She writes to engage with individuals and raise awareness of digital security, privacy, and better IT infrastructure.
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