Ring adopts TAKE encryption as default, allowing temporary key access for cloud features

Ring announced a new encryption standard called TAKE (Throw Away the Key Encryption) as the default for video encryption. This allows Ring to temporarily decrypt videos to power features like Smart Alerts, then delete the keys within 24 hours. Users can still opt for end-to-end encryption if they prefer.

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The TAKE standard is built upon the Messaging Layer Security (MLS) protocol, an open framework from the Internet Engineering Task Force. Ring's implementation rotates encryption keys that are held in the cloud only long enough to process user-requested features, such as identifying people, vehicles, or packages, before being permanently discarded within a day. This design allows for account recovery through physical proximity to the cameras, passphrases, or passkeys, without compromising the core encryption model.

This announcement arrives amid heightened scrutiny of Ring's privacy practices. The company recently faced backlash over its "Familiar Faces" facial recognition feature, and a class action lawsuit in June accused Amazon of storing