Page 4 | Ring doorbell and privacy

AInightingale · 2023-09-10T08:47:11+00:00

Can anyone advise me on these? My neighbour has had one installed on her front door. Our doors are about two feet apart, we share a path and actually a doorstep, which is all one structure- it's a terrace. There is a drainpipe in between, nothing else. Will her device be recording image AND audio of us as we come and go, and conversations with visitors etc? I am very concerned about this, I find it a total intrusion. Is what she has done legal, and have I any way of screening or blocking the sensor so it does not pick up footage from my doorstep? I don't have much knowledge of these systems or how they work.

Hawkins0009 · 11/09/2023 18:52

AInightingale · 11/09/2023 13:02

It IS creepy. I can't understand why people are ok with any old Tom Dick or Harry doing it. To record private conversations for the purposes of criminal investigations requires a very high level authorisation, yet the public seem to be able to do it with these devices? What's to stop people installing a smart device at their backdoor, garden shed etc, and creeping on neighbours in back gardens, where there is an expectation of privacy - these things have quite a range.

id guess the difference would be more private security rather than specific surveillance

shutterup · 11/09/2023 18:57

Total invasion of privacy. I'd hate it. And to those saying 'there's CCTV everywhere' - yes there is but you don't expect AUDIO and VIDEO RECORDING to take place on your own doorstep.

I think a lot of people use them just as a doorbell though... why not ask your neighbour. You might be worrying about nothing.

Qilin · 14/09/2023 17:43

shutterup · 11/09/2023 18:57

Total invasion of privacy. I'd hate it. And to those saying 'there's CCTV everywhere' - yes there is but you don't expect AUDIO and VIDEO RECORDING to take place on your own doorstep.

I think a lot of people use them just as a doorbell though... why not ask your neighbour. You might be worrying about nothing.

The default setting records audio and video.

Why would people sped more on a ring system and only use them as a basic doorbell, and turn off the audio/video setting?

BH230192 · 25/02/2024 14:37

It normally lights up when the person is watching live at the other end. I’ve had this numerous times with having a chat with someone at the door or a delivery and it starts flashing blue so you know people are watching and listening.

Jodieplus2 · 29/07/2024 07:29

I’d like to think that most people use their doorbells for the right reason, but this week I found out that my neighbour had been recording my movements and listening in on my conversations with my friends on my doorstep. So yes, you have a right now be concerned I think OP, there are some weird people out there!

NewFriendlyLadybird · 29/07/2024 08:16

OhYouBadBadKitten · 10/09/2023 13:25

I would not be happy at all if my neighbours could listen to conversations via recordings on my doorstep. I could be having a private conversation with my husband for example. This is a massive invasion of privacy.

Why would you have a private conversation on the doorstep?

If your neighbour were sitting in the front room they could hear it anyway, with no help from technology.

Lampslights · 29/07/2024 08:28

Op there is no point in asking to see her settings, settings can be changed at any time, it’s not permanent.

howver unless there is a back story, or she’s weird, I doubt she’s set it to cover your path.

I have motion detection off during the day, just the doorbell alert, and switch motion on at night, and I have it set up only for our area, I’ve no desire to be bothered by my neighbours.

Lampslights · 29/07/2024 08:30

Throwncrumbs · 11/09/2023 17:24

I can lay in bed and hear every conversation on my neighbours ring doorbell, I know where their parcels are hidden, as the tell the postman and delivery drivers where to put them. If I can hear the street can hear. They have chats with people who call and they are out, they tell them when they will be home. It’s ridiculous. They also leave their doors open out the back when they go out, so anyone can hear they are not in and then go in. They’ve had their Gusto pack stolen , bloody ring doorbell is useless for these dimwits!

Just why? Set it up so you don’t capture that. And to be able to do that, you need to be going into live feed, literally making a conscious decision to go in, open it up. Go to live feed and watch and listen.

SillyGreyDuck · 01/07/2025 17:54

Is it illegal to record someone working on his own property standing on the pavement, then phone someone to report what that person was doing, then send the someone they phoned to go and verbally assault the person on the pavement.
If you read this a couple of times, it may make sense.

LordEmsworth · 01/07/2025 19:20

SillyGreyDuck · 01/07/2025 17:54

Is it illegal to record someone working on his own property standing on the pavement, then phone someone to report what that person was doing, then send the someone they phoned to go and verbally assault the person on the pavement.
If you read this a couple of times, it may make sense.

Or it may not.

Who do you think has committed what crime? Recording someone = not illegal, standing on the pavement = not illegal, telling someone that someone is doing something (or "reporting them") = not illegal, "sending someone" = not illegal, "verbal assault on the pavement" = no such thing - could be classified as disorderly conduct, which might be grounds for police action, but is not in itself illegal. Unless there's a massive back story and there's a history of harassment.

SillyGreyDuck · 02/07/2025 19:59

As you think you are being clever or funny in your reply to me, your not. You should know that recording someone other than on your own premises and inform someone else, other than the law, is illegal. As the advice you give is useless, and your way of answering it, is unfunny and pointless as discussed with a solicitor you yourself are useless. No wonder I have never asked a question before or, heard of anyone doing the same. I shall take you off my email list, right away and inform everyone else to do the same. Bet you don't print this anyway.

3678194b · 02/07/2025 20:05

You'd be relying on the neighbours goodwill that she has zoned her property only, but doing a live view, for example, you can still see the whole picture the camera covers. When ours is being viewerd or has been set off, a red light appears on the device.

LordEmsworth · 03/07/2025 09:50

SillyGreyDuck · 02/07/2025 19:59

As you think you are being clever or funny in your reply to me, your not. You should know that recording someone other than on your own premises and inform someone else, other than the law, is illegal. As the advice you give is useless, and your way of answering it, is unfunny and pointless as discussed with a solicitor you yourself are useless. No wonder I have never asked a question before or, heard of anyone doing the same. I shall take you off my email list, right away and inform everyone else to do the same. Bet you don't print this anyway.

Please do take me off your email list 🙏

It is not illegal to record anyone, anywhere. What you do with the recording might or might not be illegal.

Telling someone what someone else is doing - "reporting" them - is not illegal.

HTH, or feel free to ignore me. Doesn't make me wrong 🙄

SaturdayDream · 03/07/2025 10:05

My neighbour has one and our doors are almost touching and then 4 houses directly opposite have them so they’ll see us coming and going.

I hated it at first but now I just get on with my day.

Profpudding · 03/07/2025 11:02

Be careful what you say. I’ve heard my neighbours bitching about me on the ring doorbell. 🤣