Amazon unveiled a new tracking system at a time when Americans are debating the value of persistent surveillance.

The FBI’s publication of videos from Nancy Guthrie’s Google Nest doorbell camera has reinvigorated questions that have dogged big tech companies as they have become a larger part of people’s daily lives: How much data are these devices collecting?

These developments have many wondering what a smart security camera or doorbell does, who has access to the video they take — and what homeowners can do to secure their own data.

Ring cameras allow you to watch a live view of your front door remotely from your phone, while keeping footage for future use. The cameras have been distributed to survivors of domestic violence across the state.