Ring Kills Flock Safety Deal After Super Bowl Ad Uproar

Wired

by Maddy Varner, Andrew Couts

February 14, 2026

AI-Generated Deep Dive Summary

Ring has decided to halt its partnership with Flock Safety after facing public backlash over concerns about mass surveillance. The company cited a "comprehensive review" that found the integration of their camera network with Flock Safety’s license plate reader technology would require more time and resources than anticipated. This decision came shortly after Ring aired a Super Bowl ad for its new Search Party feature, which uses AI to help find lost dogs but raised fears it could also be used for surveillance targeting people. The move reflects growing criticism ofRing's ties to law enforcement and its role in facilitating surveillance without proper judicial oversight. The article highlights the broader debate over privacy versus security in tech. Ring, owned by Amazon since 2018, has long faced scrutiny from privacy advocates for its partnerships with police departments and tools like its Neighbors app that allowed authorities to access user-provided surveillance footage directly. While the company removed that tool earlier this year, critics argue that Flock Safety’s technology poses similar risks. Flock Safety’s network of license plate readers and facial recognition tools has drawn ire for enabling ICE to track immigrants without judicial oversight. Meanwhile, tech companies continue to push into controversial areas with potential privacy implications. Meta announced plans to integrate face recognition technology into its smart glasses, even as face recognition faces growing opposition from lawmakers and civil rights groups. The timing of these developments coincides with increased scrutiny of surveillance tools by U.S. immigration authorities. Customs and Border Protection recently signed a $225,000 deal with Clearview AI, giving Border Patrol access to the company’s facial recognition technology. The piece underscores the ethical dilemmas surrounding emerging technologies like AI and cryptocurrency. While AI shows promise in fields like nuclear arms verification—where it could analyze satellite imagery to monitor compliance—experts caution that flaws remain. Cryptocurrencies, meanwhile, have become a preferred method for criminals, with blockchain transactions linked to human trafficking and fraud nearly doubling last year, according to Chainalysis. These stories highlight the dual nature of tech innovation: while AI and other advancements hold

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Originally published on Wired on 2/14/2026