Ring’s new default ‘Take or Throw Away the Key’ encryption system aims to give users greater control over their video footage, marking a significant shift in privacy practices amid past scrutiny over data handling.
Amazon’s Ring is set to make a new encryption system, called TAKE or Throw Away the Key Encryption, the default for customers worldwide from September. The company says the change is designed to give users tighter control over recorded footage from its home security cameras and doorbells, while limiting Ring’s own ability to hold on to access once a task is complete.
Under the new arrangement, Ring can briefly use an encryption key to support functions such as Smart Alerts, but it says the key is then deleted. After that, only the account holder and any trusted users they have authorised can view the video. Ring has framed the system as a homeowner keeping the only copy of a key, with the manufacturer able to borrow it temporarily but not retain a duplicate.
According to Amazon’s Ring announcement, the company will still be able to support cloud-based features that depend on short-term access, but the balance of control shifts decisively towards the customer. TechCrunch reported that the rollout will begin gradually in September and that users will still be able to choose standard end-to-end encryption manually if they prefer. That means the new default is not the only privacy setting available, but it does signal Ring’s latest attempt to reconcile security features with stricter access controls.
The move comes after years of scrutiny over Ring’s handling of customer data. The Federal Trade Commission reached a settlement with the company in 2023 over allegations that staff and contractors could access private videos and that footage was shared with police without user consent, according to Ars Technica’s reporting on the case. Ring did not address those disputes directly in its announcement, but TAKE appears aimed at easing some of the privacy concerns that have followed the brand for several years.
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