Amazon Sued Over Ring Doorbell Facial Recognition Feature
6 verified3 unconfirmed
Amazon is facing a class action lawsuit over its Ring doorbell cameras’ facial recognition feature, known as Familiar Faces. The suit, filed by Virginia resident Charles Sigwalt in federal court in Seattle, alleges that the feature collects and stores biometric data of passersby without their consent. Ring introduced Familiar Faces last September and launched it in December, allowing users to create a directory of up to 50 familiar people for customized alerts. The feature is opt-in for camera owners, but critics say people walking past are not given a choice. The lawsuit seeks damages for what it describes as millions of Americans whose facial data was recorded. Amazon had not responded to requests for comment at the time of reporting but previously stated that face data is encrypted and unidentified faces are automatically deleted after 30 days. This is not Ring’s first privacy controversy; the company settled with the FTC in 2023 over improper employee access to customer videos.
What’s verified
A class action lawsuit was filed against Amazon over its Ring doorbell cameras’ Familiar Faces facial recognition feature.
The lawsuit was filed by Virginia resident Charles Sigwalt in U.S. District Court for the Western District of Washington, where Amazon is headquartered.
The Familiar Faces feature was announced in September 2025 and launched in December 2025.
The feature uses facial recognition technology to scan the faces of people who approach a Ring doorbell, then categorizes them using artificial intelligence.
Ring users must opt in to the feature, but the lawsuit argues that people who walk past the cameras have not consented to having their facial data collected.
The lawsuit seeks damages exceeding $5 million, potentially representing millions of Americans.
Not yet confirmed
The exact total amount of damages sought is not specified; one source states the complaint gives a $5 million figure for jurisdictional purposes but says the actual damages “far exceed” that amount.
No source indicates whether Amazon has formally responded to the lawsuit in court.
Whether the Familiar Faces feature stores face prints indefinitely or only temporarily (one source notes Amazon says unidentified faces are removed after 30 days, but the lawsuit suggests data is retained and used).
Key figures
Charles Sigwalt – Plaintiff and Virginia resident who filed the lawsuit.
Amazon – Defendant as owner of Ring.
Ring – Amazon-owned company behind the doorbell cameras and Familiar Faces feature.
Sources: TechCrunch, Ars Technica
