A new article in tech magazine WIRED says they don’t recommend Ring cameras because they supposedly make it easier “for both private citizens and law enforcement agencies to target certain groups for suspicion of crime based on skin color, ethnicity, religion or country of origin.”

How does WIRED think policing works, exactly? In any investigation, witnesses are asked to provide a description of a suspect. Yes, that includes race and other easily identifiable traits that may help narrow down the search, such as height, weight, visible tattoos or unique clothing. If anything, having surveillance footage of a suspect would lead to less racial profiling because homeowners and police have more information to go off of than just “African-American male.” Never mind the fact that the first home security system was reportedly invented by a black woman who wanted extra protection while her husband was away; WIRED argued in 2021 that she unknowingly contributed to the anti-black surveillance state. …

WIRED also rejects Ring cameras because “homeowners shouldn’t be able to act as vigilantes.” They might have a point if Ring cameras were equipped with Bond-style hidden guns that fired upon any unlucky soul who landed on your doorstep. But on what planet is it vigilantism to provide assistance to a police investigation that would ultimately result in an alleged perp getting his or her day in court? That’s called being a good citizen.

[WIRED has gone woke, which means it’s no longer a tech magazine. It’s a platform for DEI lectures with a tech flavor. Only the absurdly woke believe that passive personal-space surveillance equals active vigilantism. Everyone else who wants expert recommendations for consumer options — as well as analysis of tech rather than didactic social-justice screeds — will go elsewhere for useful information. — Ed]