Amazon's doorbell camera Ring is working with police – and controlling what they say

Ring shapes communications of police agencies it works with. Critics fear it's building up a for-profit private surveillance network

Ring, Amazon's camera-connected smart doorbell company, has cameras watching hundreds of thousands of doorsteps across the US. It's also keeping an eye on what local police say online.

Records obtained through an information request show how Ring uses corporate partnerships to shape the communications of police departments it collaborates with, directing the departments' press releases, social media posts and comments on public posts.