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Short abstract

This paper examines contested legitimacy in AI-enabled consumer surveillance through Ring’s partnerships with police. Using critical discourse analysis of company documents and public backlash, it traces opaque data-sharing networks and shifting claims about privacy and trust.

Long abstract

The rapid diffusion of AI-enabled consumer surveillance technologies is reshaping relationships between private technology firms, public authorities, and citizens. This paper examines the contested legitimacy of such systems through the case of Ring and its partnerships with law enforcement. Since the late 2010s, Ring has promoted collaborations with police departments through the Neighbors platform, allowing officers to request footage from residents in the name of “community safety.” However, these partnerships have raised persistent concerns about opaque data-sharing practices and the expansion of privatized surveillance infrastructures.

The paper focuses on the 2026 controversy surrounding Ring’s planned integration with license-plate recognition company Flock Safety and fears that such systems could facilitate collaboration with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement. Following significant public backlash, including criticism across online forums and social media, Ring clarified that its programs serve “public safety agencies” rather than federal immigration authorities and subsequently ended the partnership.

Using critical discourse analysis of company statements, archived law-enforcement request documentation, privacy policies, and user commentary, this paper traces how Ring constructs narratives of privacy protection while maintaining provisions for disclosure under lawful requests. The case highlights how ambiguous governance arrangements surrounding AI-enabled surveillance platforms can erode public trust. By examining the discursive management of these controversies, the paper contributes to STS debates on how publics normalise and contest AI-driven surveillance infrastructures in contemporary policing ecosystems.