Ring’s new Search Party feature is on by default; should you opt out?

Here is a 205-word summary of the news article: Amazon-owned smart security company Ring has introduced a new Search Party feature that uses AI to scan footage from nearby Ring cameras and doorbells to help find lost pets. When someone posts a picture of a missing dog on Ring's Neighbors app, the feature can detect the dog in other users' camera footage and notify them, allowing the owner to retrieve the video. While Search Party could be a valuable tool for quickly locating missing pets, the feature is enabled by default, requiring users to manually opt out. This has raised concerns about consent, as Ring users did not choose to have their camera footage searched for specific animals. There are also worries that the technology could eventually be used to search for specific individuals, especially with Ring's new facial recognition capabilities. Ring says Search Party footage will not be shared without the owner's consent, and there are no plans to use it for human biometrics. However, the company's decision to enable the feature by default, rather than asking permission first, is seen by some as an intrusive overreach. Users should have the right to decide whether their cameras are used in this way, even if it reduces the feature's overall effectiveness.