Amazon agrees to settle FTC claims Ring doorbell spied on users (update)
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Update 3:55pm: Adds Ring comment on settlement.
Amazon(NASDAQ:AMZN) agreed to settle Federal Trade Commission claims that its Ring doorbell unit allegedly spied on users.
Amazon (AMZN) agreed to pay $5.8 million to the FTC to settle the allegations, according to a FTC statement.

The FTC alleged Ring, which Amazon acquired in 2018, gave its employees and contractors "unnecessary and unrestricted access" to customersâ sensitive video data, according to a complaint filed in U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia.
"As a result of this dangerously overbroad access and lax attitude toward privacy and security, employees and third-party contractors were able to view, download, and transfer customersâ sensitive video data for their own purposes," according to the lawsuit.
Under the settlement with the FTC, Ring agreed to delete or destroy all pre-march 2018 Covered recordings.
âRingâs disregard for privacy and security exposed consumers to spying and harassment,â Samuel Levine, Director of the FTCâs Bureau of Consumer Protection said in the statement from the regulator. âThe FTCâs order makes clear that putting profit over privacy doesnât pay.â
Ring responded to the FTC settlement in a statement.
âOur focus has been and remains on delivering products and features our customers love, while upholding our commitment to protect their privacy and security," Ring said in the statement. "Ring promptly addressed these issues on its own years ago, well before the FTC began its inquiry. While we disagree with the FTCâs allegations and deny violating the law, this settlement resolves this matter so we can focus on innovating on behalf of our customers.â
The FTC settlement with Amazon (AMZN) come as the Internet retail giant is trying to complete its $1.7 billion purchase of robot vacuum company iRobot (IRBT), which some have also criticized for its privacy concerns. iRobot shares rose 2.1% on Wednesday.
In October, Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-MA) as well as five other members of Congress urged the FTC to block the transaction, which cited some privacy concerns.