I spy: are smart doorbells creating a global surveillance network?

They were sold as gadgets that meant you would never miss a delivery. But now doorbell cameras - from Amazon's Ring to Google's Nest - are recording our every move

I have got a new doorbell. It's brilliant. It should be; it cost 89. It's a Ring video doorbell; you'll have seen them around. There are others available, made by other companies, with other four-letter names such as Nest and Arlo. When someone rings my doorbell, I'm alerted on my smartphone. I can see who is there, and speak to them.

My phone is ringing! C major first inversion chord, arpeggiated, repeated, for the musically trained - you'll recognise it if you've heard it. It's a delivery. Amazon, as it happens; Amazon acquired Ring in 2018, reportedly for more than $1bn.