2025-07-01 11:00:00 by CNET

This year has seen a growing home security practice that was previously unheard of: Neighborhoods are using their security cameras and doorbells to track police activity in their area, like ICE raids in California, and share the information via apps such as Ring Neighbors.Law enforcement, which has grown accustomed to requesting home security videos for its own purposes, doesn't appear to be a fan of doorbells and security cameras being used against its activities. Security companies walk a tightrope when deciding what to allow and what to block while following the latest laws and court orders. Owners, meanwhile, wonder what this means for their privacy and safety, and their freedom when it comes to using the tech they paid for.I dug into the issue, asked Ring and Nextdoor where they stand on the subject, and found the rules everyone should know about using security tech to track official activities.Rules about reporting law enforcement activity on apps like Ring Neighbors Posts that name streets and other nearby locations are less likely to be removed. Tyler Lacoma/CNETWhen I reached out to Ring about its Neighbors app policies regarding recent events and police raids (as well as Reddit reports about posts being taken down), the company provided helpful information about its specific policies.I found out the reasons why Ring does tend to remove certain posts or stop them from going live on Neighbors. For one thing, posts about a general law enforcement presence can get nixed. So if someone said ICE was spotted in "Bell Gardens," their post would be denied because that's just too vague. Or if a post asked, "Hey, is there any ICE activity in town?" it wouldn't be allowed. Other posts get banned if they:Explicitly obstruct law enforcementVoice political opinionsAssume immigration status, or other types of prejudiceDon't pertain to local eventsRing Neighbors does allow posts about specific law enforcement activity Ring posts generally allow for specific information, but not broad discussion or accusations. Tyler Lacoma/CNETPosts that cite an exact location, or images showing agents directly connected to an event, tend to be fine. If someone said, "I saw ICE knocking on doors at the IHOP on Florence and Pico," that would be allowed, according to Ring's guidelines. Other allowed posts provide info on the exact cross streets, addresses, complexes, blocks and so on.Bans aren't always immediate. Sometimes posts that violate guidelines are taken down after the fact, either as a result of postpublication moderation, user flagging or user deletion. And customers can usually appeal moderation decisions for the sake of consistency.When I turned to Nextdoor, another popular neighborhood app used for discussing events, a company spokesperson said something similar: "Our platform fosters discussions of local issues and, as such, our Community Guidelines prohibit broad commentary or personal opinions on national political topics." As long as it's a local issue and users follow the basic community guidelines (be respectful, don't discriminate, use your true identity, and so on), then posts should be fine.Guidelines for posting on Ring Neighbors and more App users need to give details in their posts, and thorough descriptions, especially if they're including a picture. Tyler Lacoma/CNETWhen I visit my own Neighbors app, I see -- contrary to some reports -- that users frequently post about hearing sirens or police activity in their own neighborhoods, ask about masked strangers or raise questions about law enforcement.Posts like these make it clear: You can still post about security concerns on Ring Neighbors and other apps, even and especially when they involve police activity. You can also post about people you don't recognize and strangers knocking, which opens the door (not literally) to talking about masked federal ICE agents that aren't wearing any identifiers.In other words, it looks like what Ring said holds true. Explicit information citing current, local events, preferably with address data, is allowed."Focus on the behavior that raised your suspicion," Nextdoor recommends. "Describe the potentially criminal or dangerous activity you observed or experienced -- what the person was doing, what they said (if they spoke to you). Include the direction they were last headed." If you post with an eye toward the safety of your neighborhood, your post is less likely to be removed.Finally, avoid posts that include gruesome content, or that violate someone's privacy, which are also red flags likely to lead to a block.Can users coordinate with one another on apps like Ring Neighbors? Ring tends to allow conversations about what people can share concerning ongoing police events. Tyler Lacoma/CNETThis is a gray area and it's difficult to know if discussions will get removed. In my experience on the Neighbors app, many discussions about sirens and unexplained police presence were left up, allowing people to provide additional information from their own perspectives, what they heard on police scanners, and so on.It's possible that the more these posts mention ICE or federal enforcement, the more likely they'll be removed, and if conversations move into discussions about national issues or general legal advice, they may be taken down. But many people have reported that they've successfully used apps like Neighbors to talk about nearby law enforcement raids, so I don't see any evidence of a blanket ban.Groups using the Neighbors app to communicate important information or provide help should also be aware of the Neighbors Verified tag, which is available to both public safety agencies and community organizations. This tag makes it easier for users of Neighbors to trust information and announcements from specific accounts. Verified accounts don't have access to any additional information about users.Reports of law enforcement covering up home doorbells and camerasAn NBC affiliate in Denver, 9News, published footage of what it reported were federal agents covering up a video doorbell during a raid. (The Independent reported that ICE said it "does not comment on specific tactics, capabilities, or operational details.")It's unclear if a move like this is illegal under protections against unreasonable searches and seizures, but civil rights attorneys have said it is. If anything like this happens, it's best to immediately save the recording -- and remember that agents almost always need a warrant to enter your home.A few final rules to follow Often the best response to a federal raid is no response at all, as well as remembering your rights. Westend61/Getty ImagesWhether you're concerned about federal raids, curious about what law enforcement is doing in your area, or just want clarification about worrying events, remember a few basic rules as outlined by the American Civil Liberties Union and the National Immigrant Justice Center:Don't escalate: In cases where federal agents or people appearing to be agents have knocked on doors, people have done nothing and simply waited for agents to leave. Remember, without a warrant, they usually can't enter a house, and if you have a video doorbell, it can still record everything that happens. Avoid confrontation when possible, and don't give law enforcement anything to act on. Remember, everyone still has the right to remain silent.If you feel your safety is endangered, call 911 or seek help from a nonprofit: Calling 911 is very helpful if you feel unsafe because of nearby events. You can explain the situation and have a record of the call. 911 is an emergency response service and isn't in the business of reporting to federal agents. There are also local immigrant rights agencies you can contact to report ICE, and groups like the ACLU can usually point you in the right direction.For more information, take a look at the latest news on what Ring is letting the police see (it's good news for privacy fans), the legal ramifications of recording video or audio in your home, and what you and landlords can legally do with security cameras.