Amazon's Ring, a smart doorbell company, has ended its partnership with Flock Safety, a firm that provides surveillance services, following criticism over its handling of user privacy.

In October, Ring and Flock Safety announced a deal that would have enabled law enforcement agencies to access video footage from Ring devices, with customer consent, for investigative purposes.

The proposed agreement would have allowed agencies partnered with Flock to retrieve relevant video recordings from Ring devices, provided customers had given their permission.

The decision to cancel the partnership came shortly after a Ring advertisement aired during the Super Bowl, sparking widespread criticism for its perceived invasiveness.

According to Ring, the partnership with Flock would have required significantly more time and resources than initially anticipated, leading to the decision to terminate the agreement.

Ring also stated that the integration of its cameras with Flock's systems never took place, and as a result, no customer videos were shared with Flock Safety.

A Flock Safety spokesperson described the cancellation of the partnership as a mutual decision, stating that it would allow both companies to better serve their customers and communities.

Flock Safety released a statement saying, "We believe this decision allows both companies to best serve their respective customers and communities," following the cancellation of the partnership.

Ring, acquired by Amazon in 2018, has previously faced concerns regarding its privacy policies, particularly with regards to its collaboration with law enforcement agencies and its handling of user data.

A recent Ring advertisement, which showcased the company's Search Party feature, drew new criticism and sparked concerns about surveillance and privacy.

The advertisement, which depicted a neighborhood using Ring devices to locate a lost dog, was widely criticized for promoting a form of community surveillance.

Senator Ed Markey, a Democrat from Massachusetts, responded to the advertisement by calling on Amazon to discontinue its monitoring features, citing concerns about the potential for a "surveillance state."

The Electronic Frontier Foundation, a non-profit organization that advocates for internet rights, criticized the advertisement, saying it used a relatable scenario to promote a feature that could potentially enable widespread surveillance and tracking.

The advertisement was also mocked on social media, with rival company Wyze releasing a satirical video that poked fun at Ring's Search Party feature.

In the video, Wyze co-founder Dave Crosby jokingly suggests that the technology could be used to track anyone, but claims it is only used for finding lost dogs, highlighting the potential risks and concerns surrounding the feature.

Both Ring and Flock Safety have faced public scrutiny over their handling of user privacy and their collaborations with law enforcement agencies.

Flock Safety, founded in 2017, has experienced rapid growth, with its cameras and license plate readers currently active in over 5,000 US cities, primarily through contracts with police agencies.

The company's plans to partner with Ring were announced amidst controversy, with Senator Ron Wyden accusing Flock of not doing enough to prevent the misuse of its cameras, particularly in relation to immigration and abortion laws.

Flock Safety has disputed these allegations, denying any wrongdoing.

Ring also collaborates with law enforcement agencies, receiving thousands of requests for footage from customer cameras each year, and complying with these requests when legally required.

With his dominant performance in Cortina, Matt Weston solidified his position as the world's top skeleton racer, claiming a historic Olympic gold medal and earning Team GB its first medal at the 2026 Winter Games.

A daily breakdown of the Winter Olympics is available for viewers who want to stay up-to-date on the events.

The complete schedule, including the timing of all medal events, can be accessed for planning purposes.

The current standings of the 2026 Winter Olympics medal count are available for tracking.

Don Lemon, a former host at CNN, has entered a plea of not guilty in connection with his reporting on a recent protest at a church in Minnesota, where federal immigration raids had taken place.

The 59-year-old journalist faces charges of conspiracy to deprive rights and interfering with religious freedoms, specifically for allegedly using force to obstruct someone's First Amendment rights.

Lemon's arrest stemmed from an incident on January 18, when he accompanied protesters into the Cities Church in St Paul, where they claimed one of the church's pastors was involved in immigration enforcement.

During the protest, Lemon livestreamed the events, which ultimately led to charges being filed against him and eight other individuals.

On Friday, Lemon appeared in a St Paul, Minnesota courtroom, where approximately two dozen protesters had gathered to show their support, chanting slogans that included a call for the removal of Attorney General Pam Bondi.

In addition to Lemon, four co-defendants also pleaded not guilty to the charges brought against them.

Lemon has maintained that his actions were justified, stating that as an independent journalist, he was simply fulfilling his duty to cover the protest.

Following his arrest, Lemon affirmed his commitment to continuing his work as a journalist, saying, "I have dedicated my career to covering the news, and I will not stop now."

During the hearing on Friday, one of Lemon's attorneys, Abbe Lowell, raised concerns with the judge regarding the seizure of Lemon's cellphone by investigators during his arrest in Los Angeles last month.

Lemon, along with eight other co-defendants, including another journalist, has been charged with conspiracy against religious freedom and interfering with the exercise of religious freedom at a place of worship.

The January 18 incident involved protesters interrupting a church service, chanting slogans such as "ICE out" and "Justice for Renee Good," who was fatally shot by a US Immigration and Customs Enforcement officer in Minneapolis.

Video footage captured the chaotic scene inside the church, which is affiliated with the Southern Baptist Convention, as protesters and congregation members engaged in a heated exchange.

In a separate incident two weeks later, federal agents fatally shot Alex Pretti, an intensive care nurse, in Minneapolis, marking the second protest-related death in the city, after Renee Good.

In response to Lemon's arrest, White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt posted a statement on social media, saying that the Trump administration would not tolerate intimidation or harassment of Christians in their places of worship.

Lemon, a longtime critic of the Trump administration, was previously fired from CNN in April 2023, after 17 years with the network, following controversy over on-air comments he made about Republican presidential candidate Nikki Haley.