Amazon and Ring Challenge Biometric Privacy Class Action Over Familiar Faces

Amazon and Ring are jointly asking a federal judge to dismiss a proposed class action lawsuit regarding Ring’s Familiar Faces facial recognition feature. The lawsuit alleges that facial recognition information can be generated from people who do not own Ring devices without their knowledge or consent. The companies argue that the plaintiffs are attempting to create private biometric privacy claims using state laws that have not been authorized by lawmakers in Washington, Virginia, and California.

The case challenges the data collection practices of Ring, which is operated by Amazon. The lawsuit centers on the rights of people whose facial data is processed by the technology. A ruling could impact the use and deployment of biometric features within Ring's surveillance products.