DIY video surveillance company Ring and parent company Amazon are facing a federal lawsuit that claims the companies have not done enough to protect their products from security attacks. 

The lawsuit, filed Dec. 26 in the California courts, states that, “At its core, Ring’s products are designed to promote the safety of its customers and to protect their privacy.” However, according to the lawsuit, Ring has failed to deliver on this most basic promise. 

“Lax security standards and protocols render its camera systems vulnerable to cyber-attack,” the lawsuit reads. “Indeed, over the past several months numerous Ring customers reported that their camera systems had been hacked by malicious third parties who gained access to the video and two-way speaker-microphone system which they used to invade the privacy of customers’ homes and terrorize unsuspecting occupants, many of whom are children.”

The lawsuit also accuses Ring of distancing itself from liability by blaming customers for failing to create strong security passwords, alleging that Ring should have provided more robust security measures such as two-factor authentication. 

The plaintiff, John Baker Orange, a resident of Alabama, alleges claims of negligence, invasion of privacy, breach of implied contract, breach of implied warranty and unjust enrichment. 

The lawsuit says that Orange purchased a Ring outdoor camera for his home in July 2019 and installed it over his garage with a view of the driveway. When Orange’s children were playing basketball, an unknown person's voice allegedly came over the camera’s speaker system, commenting on the children’s basketball play and encouraging them to get closer to the camera. 

This comes after numerous reports of similar claims from Ring customers. The total aggregated claims of class members in the suit exceed $5 million. 

When asked for a comment, a Ring spokesperson told SDM on Dec. 30 that Ring does not comment on legal matters.