Can California police access my Ring home camera footage? What policy says
As investigators search for missing Arizona woman Nancy Guthrie, authorities have released home surveillance footage that they say shows her alleged abductor.
Guthrie, 84, is from Tucson and is the mother of NBC “Today” show co-anchor Savannah Guthrie, according to Us Weekly.
Nancy Guthrie was last seen the night of Jan. 31, after family members dropped her off at her home.
Anyone with information about her disappearance is urged to call 1-800-CALL-FBI or the Pima County Sheriff’s Department at 520-351-4900.
In cases like this, home security cameras — including Ring doorbells and other surveillance systems — can become key pieces of evidence. Police often ask residents in the area to review or share footage that may have captured suspicious activity.
What authority do law enforcement agencies have in California to request or obtain that footage? Can officers access your Ring camera recordings without your permission, or do they need a warrant?
Here’s what you need to know:
What is the latest update on the Nancy Guthrie case?
FBI agents were searching roadways in the foothills north of Tucson on Wednesday, Feb. 11, hours after a man detained near the United States-Mexico border in connection with the case was released, according to The New York Times.
The man was stopped in Rio Rico, Arizona, as deputies followed up on incoming tips related to Guthrie’s disappearance, the Pima County Sheriff’s Department said. He was questioned for several hours before being released, and authorities have not announced any arrests, The New York Times reported on Wednesday.
Investigators are continuing to search for a masked person seen in surveillance footage captured by Guthrie’s doorbell camera the night she disappeared. The video, which has been shared publicly, has become a key piece of evidence as authorities work to identify a suspect and determine what happened.
Can California police access my Ring camera footage?
In most cases, police cannot access your home camera footage without your permission or a warrant.
Ring, the home security company owned by Amazon, changed its policies in 2024 and no longer allows law enforcement to obtain video directly from users’ devices without consent or a court order — except in extreme emergencies, such as situations involving imminent danger.
That means officers typically must either ask you to share the footage voluntarily or obtain a warrant signed by a judge to access it.
“Ring objects to overbroad or otherwise inappropriate law enforcement demands as a matter of course,” the company said on its website.
Police can still use Ring’s Neighbors app to post alerts, share information and ask residents to review footage that may be relevant to an investigation. However, homeowners are not required to provide video unless they choose to do so or a valid court order is issued.
A Federal Trade Commission ruling also requires companies to clearly explain how customer data may be shared, ensuring users understand when and how their footage can be accessed.
How does this affect California law enforcement?
Law enforcement can still ask users for their home camera footage to assist in crime investigations — but users do not have to comply unless they are legally required.
The Sacramento Police Department previously told The Sacramento Bee that this does not “have a significant impact” on the police department.
“When a crime occurs, our officers or investigators go out and conduct a neighborhood canvass,” the department told The Bee in 2024. “During the neighborhood canvass, we are looking for potential witnesses, but we are also looking for any and all potential video, such as surveillance or Ring cameras.”
A majority of the time, the department said, victims and witnesses with home cameras are more than willing to provide footage.
“We often reach out directly to residents, requesting their cooperation in providing relevant video footage that may assist us,” the Modesto Police Department previously told The Bee.
Can I still post my home camera footage online?
According to Ring’s privacy agreement, “you’re in control” of who has access to your home camera recordings.
“You can make your videos publicly available by posting them on the Internet (including by posting them to the public social media app Neighbors by Ring),” Ring said on its website.
When videos are posted online to social media, the Modesto Police Department said, they are considered open source and may not require a warrant for their use.
“As far as videos posted on social media, each scenario can pose a different outcome, as the legality and requirements for using videos posted on social media may vary,” the department said.
