Ring Doorbell

WeAreGhosts

Hoping someone can answer my quick question that I can't seem to find the answer to.

Can audio be captured on a Ring Doorbell without the need for pressing the doorbell? I know they will capture motion within a certain range, but can it also be set up to capture an audio file whenever someone speaks within range (separate to the motion sensor)?

Racky_Roo

Yes it captures audio along with motion. It's 20 second snippets. If my neighbours walk past chatting, it picks up their conversation.

FreeBear

Cautionary tale - https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/technology-58911296

WeAreGhosts

Yes, I've been reading the judgement on it - all very interesting and was really won on the audio aspect and the bloke lying about the capabilities, rather than just having CCTV cameras installed.

It was that which made me wonder whether my neighbour's new Ring Doorbell is capturing my audio in my garden and on my driveway. The camera can't see me from my property, but if it captures audio without the need for motion then I am worried about it, especially as there are parallels with the case of that Claimant!

Sandtree

WeAreGhosts said:

Yes, I've been reading the judgement on it - all very interesting and was really won on the audio aspect and the bloke lying about the capabilities, rather than just having CCTV cameras installed.

It was that which made me wonder whether my neighbour's new Ring Doorbell is capturing my audio in my garden and on my driveway. The camera can't see me from my property, but if it captures audio without the need for motion then I am worried about it, especially as there are parallels with the case of that Claimant!

It has the capability to however if they have chosen to (or even know) is another question... certainly with Nest's offering audio capture is defaulted as off and what it captures also depends on your subscription level... top subscription can be 24/7 recording.

Racky_Roo

Just to clarify, it only captures audio if triggered by motion, and even then, you need to go into the event to listen and watch. You're only going to do that if there's been an incident like someone has hit your car. It doesn't allow you to view or listen to anything unless you either activate "live" or it's been triggered by motion or the doorbell being rung.

fenwick458

FreeBear said:

Cautionary tale - https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/technology-58911296

thats an interesting case. full details here, I still don't really understand it though. what exactly did Mr Woodward do wrong? 

bris

The cameras were set up in a way that the neighbour could be seen and heard (spied on) without her permission. Not only that the neighbour asked about the positioning of the cameras, was denied an answer and refused to discuss it.

This left the neighbour in distress, believing she was being spied on and so left the property.

The defendant could have put her mind at rest by explaining or showing there was no cameras covering her property but arrogance and an "I can do what I want" attitude got him convicted.

littleboo

I don't have one so don't know first hand how they work and how granular the configuration is, but it does seem that in many scenarios  there could be a situation where Neighbour A will record Neighbour B each time they leave/enter their own property, or Neighbour B will think they are being recorded each time they leave/enter their own property

robatwork

fenwick458 said:

thats an interesting case. full details here, I still don't really understand it though. what exactly did Mr Woodward do wrong? 

Most people wouldn't have a doorbell camera on their shed. Not sure this case sets a precedent for doorbell cameras on front doors aimed at the street. 

Rosa_Damascena

FreeBear said:

Cautionary tale - https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/technology-58911296

All this does is put me off having the neighbours round!!