Ring Video Doorbell privacy

marcia_

Artyboy1973 said:

marcia_ said:

Artyboy1973 said:

I’m the original poster. Here is an update.
I had a word with my neighbour about the doorbell camera installed on her door that looks directly at my front door and told her I am unhappy with it. Her reply was that she isn’t going to remove the doorbell camera as she lives in fear in her home and had to be a witness to an attempted murder plus she is sick of parcels being stolen by drug addicts who break into the 4 in a block security door. 

I asked her if the doorbell camera was recording and taking snapshots but she assured me that it isn’t. She only gets an alarm from her smart phone whenever anyone enters the communial area and that also includes whenever I open my front door to enter or leave which I’m not happy about. I told her I was still not happy but she still assured me that nothing is recorded as she cannot afford the Ring subscription. 

 Do you acknowledge there has been drug addict's accessing the building? 

Does the camera by its mere presence not comfort you that this may deter them? 

The drug addicts aren’t stealing from neighbours flats. They are stealing parcels that couriers have left at neighbours front doors. Couriers should be more careful where they leave parcels or take parcels back to courier depot if the person isn’t in. When I order anything online I make sure I’m in or tell courier to send back to depot for collection.

Anyway, I like my privacy and I still feel uncomfortable and watched every time I enter or leave my flat/appartment which is made worse as I suffer anxiety and depression. My neighbour assured me that it isn’t recording or taking photos but I still feel watched and it’s making me uncomfortable.

 Feeling and being are two different things, perhaps see a doctor about your anxiety 

Artyboy1973

ekmeebee said:

Privacy IT’S IMPORTANT, and I don’t mean in a shopping etc area, I mean at my own home in my own garden, at my front door, my pathway, in my own home (audio on these things have an excessive range) I expect as everyone should privacy. I am doing nothing wrong so why should I be under surveillance at/in my own private home. Any TYPE of person can go out and buy and stick it up on their door with no concern for anyone. I have a 17yr old daughter, our street in a primary school walk way. They serve no purpose, are not a deterrent to crime, a hoodie would frustrate that, they offer no extra security. They are an intrusion in the neighbourhood, why are we accepting this ?

Exactly my point. I am just a law abiding citizen and I am on camera every time I enter or leave my flat/appartment which makes me feel uncomfortable. I think what makes me even more uncomfortable is that the neighbours doorbell camera is pointed directly at my front door and nowhere else.

victor2

Artyboy1973 said:

ekmeebee said:

Privacy IT’S IMPORTANT, and I don’t mean in a shopping etc area, I mean at my own home in my own garden, at my front door, my pathway, in my own home (audio on these things have an excessive range) I expect as everyone should privacy. I am doing nothing wrong so why should I be under surveillance at/in my own private home. Any TYPE of person can go out and buy and stick it up on their door with no concern for anyone. I have a 17yr old daughter, our street in a primary school walk way. They serve no purpose, are not a deterrent to crime, a hoodie would frustrate that, they offer no extra security. They are an intrusion in the neighbourhood, why are we accepting this ?

Exactly my point. I am just a law abiding citizen and I am on camera every time I enter or leave my flat/appartment which makes me feel uncomfortable. I think what makes me even more uncomfortable is that the neighbours doorbell camera is pointed directly at my front door and nowhere else.

It's a doorbell and therefore quite difficult to point elsewhere. I can appreciate the discomfort when you go out, but it would be the same position if you decided to have one.
If it isn't actually recording, then it is of limited use other than being a small deterrent, which "drug addicts" wouldn't really care about.

RumRat

Your neighbour has no choice where the camera points as you are in a block of flats.
The camera is pointed at the hallway. The design of the block dictates your door is directly opposite not much she can do.
I would have thought you would realise the ladies anxiety and her need for security, placebo or otherwise.
As previously posted, you might be better off getting help with your anxiety.

Undervalued

victor2 said:

Artyboy1973 said:

ekmeebee said:

Privacy IT’S IMPORTANT, and I don’t mean in a shopping etc area, I mean at my own home in my own garden, at my front door, my pathway, in my own home (audio on these things have an excessive range) I expect as everyone should privacy. I am doing nothing wrong so why should I be under surveillance at/in my own private home. Any TYPE of person can go out and buy and stick it up on their door with no concern for anyone. I have a 17yr old daughter, our street in a primary school walk way. They serve no purpose, are not a deterrent to crime, a hoodie would frustrate that, they offer no extra security. They are an intrusion in the neighbourhood, why are we accepting this ?

Exactly my point. I am just a law abiding citizen and I am on camera every time I enter or leave my flat/appartment which makes me feel uncomfortable. I think what makes me even more uncomfortable is that the neighbours doorbell camera is pointed directly at my front door and nowhere else.

It's a doorbell and therefore quite difficult to point elsewhere. I can appreciate the discomfort when you go out, but it would be the same position if you decided to have one.
If it isn't actually recording, then it is of limited use other than being a small deterrent, which "drug addicts" wouldn't really care about.

No, it still allows the owner to see who is at her door so that she can decide whether to answer the door, ignore it and pretend to be out or in extreme call the police.

noitsnotme

Artyboy1973 said:

ekmeebee said:

Privacy IT’S IMPORTANT, and I don’t mean in a shopping etc area, I mean at my own home in my own garden, at my front door, my pathway, in my own home (audio on these things have an excessive range) I expect as everyone should privacy. I am doing nothing wrong so why should I be under surveillance at/in my own private home. Any TYPE of person can go out and buy and stick it up on their door with no concern for anyone. I have a 17yr old daughter, our street in a primary school walk way. They serve no purpose, are not a deterrent to crime, a hoodie would frustrate that, they offer no extra security. They are an intrusion in the neighbourhood, why are we accepting this ?

I think what makes me even more uncomfortable is that the neighbours doorbell camera is pointed directly at my front door and nowhere else.

You do realise that the camera has an almost 180 degree angle of view.  I believe Ring cameras are around 150-160 degrees.  So while it appears to you that it is only pointing at your door, it is actually looking almost completely left and right of the neighbours door.  If your doors are opposite each other in a corridor, the camera is able view a good portion of the whole corridor left and right.

steviebuk

I'd ignore it but as your local council are your landlord then speak to them. They should send a neighbourhood team member out to speak and check. It can benefit you as well having it there so I'd ignore it but the council, can and do ask for them to be removed when they see them installed in those types of flats.

outtatune

Artyboy1973 said:

I’m the original poster. Here is an update.
I had a word with my neighbour about the doorbell camera installed on her door that looks directly at my front door and told her I am unhappy with it. Her reply was that she isn’t going to remove the doorbell camera as she lives in fear in her home and had to be a witness to an attempted murder plus she is sick of parcels being stolen by drug addicts who break into the 4 in a block security door. 

I asked her if the doorbell camera was recording and taking snapshots but she assured me that it isn’t. She only gets an alarm from her smart phone whenever anyone enters the communial area and that also includes whenever I open my front door to enter or leave which I’m not happy about. I told her I was still not happy but she still assured me that nothing is recorded as she cannot afford the Ring subscription. 

Her response appears completely reasonable to me.

Yours, on the other hand, doesn't.