Amazon and its subsidiary Ring, maker of home surveillance equipment, have a very cozy relationship with law enforcement. So cozy, according to reports, that Amazon not only requires police departments it partners with to market its product, but the company writes the copy for them.
Gizmodo
obtained emails and documents showing Ring pre-wrote messages used by police on social media and in press releases used in at least three states.
Ring also demands police departments in partnerships with it give the company final review on all its statements about Ring products, Gizmodo reports. That arrangement led to the city of Boca Raton, Florida waiting three weeks to announce a Ring partnership already in progress.
Gizmodo also obtained copies of the "press packets" Ring issues to law enforcement partners, which include template social media posts for Facebook, Twitter, and Next-door; template press releases; sets of key talking points to stick to; and scripted answers to frequently asked questions.