Amazon's Ring sued over facial recognition without consent
Ring's Familiar Faces feature collected biometric data from millions, lawsuit claims.
A lawsuit filed against Amazon-owned Ring seeks financial damages for millions of Americans whose faces may have been recorded by Ring doorbell cameras using the Familiar Faces feature launched in late 2024. Plaintiff Charles Sigwalt, a Virginia resident, filed a class action in the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Washington, seeking more than $5 million. The complaint alleges that Familiar Faces uses facial recognition to scan visitors, create a "face print" representing unique biometric data, and then re-identify that person on future visits. Ring disabled the feature in Illinois, Texas, and Portland, Oregon due to strict biometric privacy laws, but still operates it elsewhere, including Virginia.
The lawsuit argues this violates the FTC Act’s prohibition on deceptive trade practices and Virginia laws against using people’s likenesses for trade without consent. It claims Ring profits from the feature through increased camera sales without compensating those whose data is collected. The suit seeks an injunction to stop the practice, financial payouts for each class member, and disgorgement of profits. Amazon has not yet formally responded, but a spokesperson previously told media that Familiar Faces is optional and not enabled by default.
- Suit filed by Charles Sigwalt in Washington federal court, seeking over $5M.
- Feature creates biometric 'face prints' from visitors, stored without explicit consent.
- Ring disabled the feature in Illinois, Texas, and Portland but operates elsewhere.
Why It Matters
This case sets a precedent for biometric privacy in the absence of national regulations.