Amazon.com Ring Camera Data Privacy Class Action

What's the Issue?

Hagens Berman’s consumer-rights attorneys filed a class-action lawsuit against Amazon alleging it violated the privacy rights of millions of Americans through Ring security camera surveillance at homes and businesses.

Beginning December 2025, Ring (owned by Amazon.com) launched its Familiar Faces feature, which captures and stores the facial recognition data of passersby without their knowledge, according to the lawsuit. Ring allegedly uses AI to generate a faceprint that can re-identify individuals, collecting highly sensitive biometric information without consent.

The lawsuit alleges Amazon and Ring violated consumer privacy laws by capturing this personally identifiable information without authorization. The lawsuit states, “Defendant’s conduct here represents a profound privacy failure for millions of people who are now being tracked by Amazon – which has a contentious relationship with and tempestuous history regarding consumer privacy rights.”

Who Is Affected by the Privacy Lawsuit Against Amazon and Ring?

As of the time of filing, Ring’s Familiar Faces feature is in use across the United States except in Texas, Illinois and Portland, Oregon, due to strict local privacy laws. The proposed class is expected to encompass millions of individuals and includes all persons in the US who had their facial recognition data collected, retained and otherwise used by the Familiar Faces feature during the applicable time period.

What Does the Lawsuit Allege About Ring’s Familiar Faces?

The lawsuit alleges that Ring’s Familiar Faces feature captures and saves the biometric and facial recognition data of passersby in public, without their consent, when they pass a Ring doorbell installed at a home or business with Familiar Faces activated. While owners of Ring doorbells opt into this feature, those passing by in public do not. Amazon then retains this data for up to six months, even if the individual is not saved by a Ring user in the Familiar Faces library.

“The Ring camera is, by far, the most widely deployed residential doorbell camera system in the United States, which means that Ring’s creation of Familiar Faces will impact more consumers than any of its competitors could,” the lawsuit states. “However, rather than act as an industry leader and respect digital privacy rights, Ring has consciously chosen the exact opposite.”

The lawsuit further alleges that Ring deliberately disregards biometric privacy laws with respect to the Familiar Faces feature, despite the ability to comply.

“[a]lthough Amazon stated that Ring doorbell owners must opt in to activate the new [Familiar Faces] feature, that safeguard does not extend to individuals who are unknowingly captured on video by a Ring doorbell camera. These individuals never receive notice, let alone the opportunity to opt in or opt out of having their face scanned and logged in a database using [facial recognition technology.]. To put it plainly, Amazon’s system forces non-consenting bystanders into a biometric database without their knowledge or consent. This is an unacceptable privacy violation.”
 — United States Senator Edward Markey of Massachusetts in a letter to Amazon SEO Andrew Jassy, October 2025

What Should I Know About My Personally Identifiable Information?

Personally identifiable information (PII) has intrinsic value, and biometric data often carries significantly greater value than other forms of PII such as a home address or passport number because it is generally immutable and cannot be changed once compromised.

Biometric identifiers come in many forms that are unique (and largely unchangeable) to each person, making them critical to protect and secure. Businesses can use biometric data to identify consumers and link it to information such as their methods of payment, and types of credit cards and debit cards they hold. The result is a vast repository of data – purchasing history, consumer habits, medical payments and more, all tied to an individual’s biometric identifiers.

How Did Amazon and Ring Allegedly Harm Consumers?

This lawsuit seeks to force Amazon, the world’s largest e-commerce company, to pay for the adverse effects and privacy violations suffered by the proposed class through damages and injunctive relief, seeking to put an end to violating use of Ring’s Familiar Faces. Attorneys allege those affected have suffered interception of their private and valuable biometric and facial recognition data, information which carries significant value, something those affected were not compensated for. The U.S. biometrics market and industry were valued at nearly $9.98 billion in 2023.

Attorneys further allege that Amazon and Ring’s actions may constitute unjust enrichment and violate several state consumer protection laws related to computer crimes, intrusion, negligence and privacy. Amazon and Ring have already faced substantial scrutiny for both facial recognition data collection as well as various privacy violations – the subject of prior litigation, congressional inquiries and Federal Trade Commission fines totaling several million dollars.

How Can a Class Action Help Those Whose Were Affected by Ring Doorbell Facial Recognition?

A class-action lawsuit seeks to level the playing field, bringing strength to collective action to change unlawful practices, including those infringing on privacy rights and protection. Though these measures do not provide immediate relief, they are a proven method of holding companies accountable for wrongdoing and allow many individuals to collectively stand up to powerful entities like Amazon and Ring. Attorneys seek to represent consumers’ rights under state and federal consumer-protection and data privacy laws.

How Do Consumers Feel About Facial Recognition?

According to the lawsuit:

• A majority of people (55%) want the government to impose restrictions on law enforcement's use of facial recognition technology.
• Nearly half of the public (46%) want the right to opt out of the use of facial recognition technology, with an even higher figure for minority ethnic groups (56%) for whom the technology is even less accurate.
• Most people oppose the use of facial recognition technologies for commercial purposes, often because they do not trust that facial recognition technology will be used ethically
• 77% of people are uncomfortable with facial recognition being used in public places.
• People fear the normalization of surveillance but are prepared to accept facial recognition when there is a clear public benefit – though 67% oppose its use in public places like schools and 61% oppose its use on public transport.

Top Consumer & High Tech Litigation Law Firm

Hagens Berman is one of the most successful consumer litigation law firms in the U.S. and has achieved more than $345 billion in settlements for consumers in lawsuits against Big Tech, retailers, food corporations, automakers, major banks and others. The firm is currently leading multiple antitrust cases against Amazon on behalf of its customers, and the firm has achieved many record-breaking victories in matters benefiting consumers. Your claim will be handled by attorneys experienced in consumer and data privacy law.

No Cost to You

Class members will never be asked to pay attorney fees or legal costs. In the event Hagens Berman or any other firm obtains a settlement that provides benefits to class members, the court will decide a reasonable fee to be awarded to the class’s legal team.