Ring, a security company known for its smart home devices, is introducing a new feature called Neighbours. This social platform allows users to share local information such as suspicious activity or lost items within a customisable radius of up to five miles. The service, first launched in the US in 2018, will be available in the UK starting October 21 through the Ring app. Importantly, it can be used by anyone, even those without Ring devices. One of the new features is called Search Party for Dogs, developed in partnership with Dogs Trust, a UK-based animal charity. This feature allows users to post information about lost pets, and if a Ring camera detects the missing dog, the owner can be notified privately. The finder can then contact the owner directly without automatic sharing of videos or images, unless the camera owner chooses to share them. This feature is currently only available for dogs, not cats. Rachel Casey, Chief Operations Officer at Dogs Trust, highlighted the importance of this feature, noting that around 25,000 dogs enter local authority care in the UK each year, with only 38% being reunited with their families. Casey stressed the need for up-to-date microchip information and the use of ID tags and collars to help identify lost pets more easily. Dave Ward, International Managing Director of Ring, explained that Neighbours aims to be a more community-focused alternative to platforms like Facebook or WhatsApp, where local groups can become overwhelmed with information. The app will include strict guidelines for posts, with moderation by both AI and human moderators. Users will be prompted to consider the appropriateness of their posts before publishing. Some features available in the US, such as Neighbours Verified—allowing local services like the fire brigade to post advisory messages—and Community Requests, which enables the police to request footage from Ring cameras in response to incidents, will not be immediately available in the UK. These features are under development and may be launched later this year. Community Requests has faced criticism from privacy advocates, who are concerned about potential surveillance and data-sharing issues. Ring has also announced a new default encryption mechanism for camera footage called TAKE (throw away the key encryption). This system provides time-limited keys to recordings, blocking access to videos after 24 hours. Any further processing or access, including by law enforcement, requires user consent to issue replacement keys through the Ring app.