April 25, 2024 at 05:13PM
The FTC announced $5.6 million in refunds for Ring customers, paid by the Amazon subsidiary. This follows allegations of privacy breaches allowing cybercriminals and employees to spy on customers through Ring security cameras. The FTC accused Ring of inadequate privacy protections, leading to hackers accessing accounts and harassing users. The refunds amount to just under $50 per customer.
The FTC announced a $5.6 million refund to be sent to Ring customers from Amazon’s coffers. This action follows allegations of spying by cybercriminals and rogue Ring employees on users’ home security camera footage. The FTC specifically charged Ring with compromising customer privacy and security, citing instances of hacking, harassment, and unauthorized access to private videos. The refunds, distributed via PayPal, amount to just under $50 per affected account, with over 117,000 accounts to receive compensation. Despite the substantial financial impact, the payout represents a small fraction of Amazon’s annual balance sheet, given its acquisition of Ring for over a billion dollars.