Security cameras that don't share footage with police
Facts last verified · Every claim is linked to its source · Methodology
Answer: The only cameras whose maker cannot hand your video to police are those that never upload it: local-only systems such as UniFi Protect (Ubiquiti says it cannot access your video) or cameras recording to your own NVR or microSD with cloud features off. Among cloud brands, Arlo says it requires a warrant; Ring requires a warrant but may share without one in emergencies. Police can still ask you directly or get a warrant for your own recordings.
Informational, not legal advice. A local system stops the company from sharing; it does not stop a court order served on you.
Company policies on police requests
| Company | Score category | What it says about police requests |
|---|---|---|
| Reolink | Legal process | No separate law-enforcement guidelines found; privacy policy says it shares personal information when required by law or "mandatorily required by government authorities".1 |
| Ubiquiti UniFi | No access to video | Video is stored on your own console; Ubiquiti says it cannot view, store or access video streams, so it has no video to hand over.2 |
| Amcrest | Discretionary | App privacy policy: Amcrest "may provide certain portions of your personal information to lawful organizations and government authorities if so requested." No warrant requirement stated.34 |
| Aqara | Discretionary | US privacy policy: discloses to law enforcement "if required or permitted to do so by law or legal process", and may disclose to prevent physical harm. No warrant requirement or user notice stated.5 |
| eufy (Anker) | Legal process | Anker (eufy's owner) confirmed to CNET in 2022, as reported by The Verge, that it would not give authorities footage without a warrant or court order; Consumer Reports says eufy confirmed it also has a policy for sharing without a warrant in potentially life-threatening emergencies.67 |
| Wyze | Legal process | Wyze says government data requests must come with a subpoena, search warrant, court order or judgment (a subpoena is not a warrant). Its privacy policy also allows disclosure for "lawful requests by public authorities".897 |
| Arlo | Warrant | Requires a search warrant before producing video.10 |
| Google Nest | Legal process | Requires legal process but has an emergency exception to share without a warrant; said in 2022 it had never used it for Nest.67 |
| Ring (Amazon) | Warrant + emergency | Warrant required for content; no content for subpoenas; emergency disclosures possible (used 11 times in 2022 through July).111213 |
| Blink (Amazon) | Discretionary | No Blink law-enforcement guidelines found. Privacy notice: Blink releases account and other personal information "when we believe release is appropriate to comply with the law" or to protect the rights, property or safety of Blink, users or others.14 |
| TP-Link (Tapo, Kasa) | Discretionary | Tapo privacy policy: shares information on a "good faith belief" that disclosure is needed to comply with law or legal process, or to respond to legal claims "like search warrants, court orders, production orders, or subpoenas" from parties including law enforcement. No warrant requirement stated. The Kasa app privacy policy uses the same language.1516 |
| SimpliSafe | Legal process | SimpliSafe's law-enforcement guidelines: account content (including video) requires a "Search Warrant OR Subpoena with prior notice to Customer OR 18 U.S.C. 2703(d) Court Order and prior notice to Customer"; a separate emergency process covers "danger of death or serious physical injury". Its camera-privacy page says it won't share footage "unless required by law".1718 |
| Lorex | Legal process | Lorex's privacy policy: shares with "Government bodies and law enforcement, to the extent they have a binding order or warrant", and says that if you do not have a Lorex Cloud Storage Plan, "we cannot disclose your Video Data".19 |
| ecobee | Discretionary | ecobee's privacy notice lists disclosure "To respond to law enforcement requests and, as required by applicable law, court order or governmental regulations". No warrant requirement stated.20 |
| EZVIZ | Discretionary | EZVIZ's US privacy policy: discloses "In response to a legal request (e.g. a search warrant, court order or subpoena) if we have a good-faith belief that the law requires us to do so", and to protect you or others. No warrant requirement stated.21 |
| Swann | Discretionary | Swann's US privacy policy: shares information "where we are legally required to do so, such as in response to court orders, law enforcement or legal process", and for potential threats to personal safety. No warrant requirement stated.22 |
| Lockly | Discretionary | Lockly's privacy policy: may disclose information on a "good-faith belief" that it is needed "in response to a court order, judicial or other government subpoena or warrant, or to otherwise cooperate with law enforcement or other governmental agencies".23 |
Devices whose maker holds no video by design, or requires a warrant
| Device | Score | Police requests | Local storage | Offline | Subscription |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ubiquiti UniFi G4 Doorbell ProDoorbell · Wired (doorbell wiring or PoE kit) | 90 | No access to video | Yes | Yes | Not needed |
| Ubiquiti UniFi G5 FlexCamera · PoE | 90 | No access to video | Yes | Yes | Not needed |
| Ubiquiti UniFi G5 BulletCamera · PoE | 90 | No access to video | Yes | Yes | Not needed |
| Ubiquiti UniFi G4 InstantCamera · USB-C, Wi-Fi | 90 | No access to video | Yes | Yes | Not needed |
| Arlo Essential Video Doorbell (2nd Gen)Doorbell · Battery or wired | 31 | Warrant | Hub only | Partial | Partly |
| Arlo Pro 5S 2K Spotlight CameraCamera · Battery, Wi-Fi | 31 | Warrant | Hub only | Partial | Partly |
Local-recording devices from other brands
These record to storage you own, so footage stays off the vendor cloud if you leave cloud features off. The company policy column applies to any data they do hold.
| Device | Score | Police requests | Local storage | Offline | Account |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Reolink Video Doorbell (PoE / WiFi)Doorbell · Wired (PoE or 12–24 VAC) | 82 | Legal process | Yes | Yes | Not required |
| Reolink E1 Outdoor ProCamera · Plug-in, Wi-Fi | 82 | Legal process | Yes | Yes | Not required |
| Reolink RLC-811A (PoE)Camera · PoE | 82 | Legal process | Yes | Yes | Not required |
| Reolink E1 ZoomCamera · Plug-in, Wi-Fi | 82 | Legal process | Yes | Yes | Not required |
| Reolink Duo 3 PoECamera · PoE | 82 | Legal process | Yes | Yes | Not required |
| Amcrest AD410 Video DoorbellDoorbell · Wired (doorbell wiring) | 73 | Discretionary | Yes | Yes | Unverified |
| Reolink Argus 4 ProCamera · Battery + solar, Wi-Fi | 72 | Legal process | Yes | Yes | Not required |
| TP-Link (Tapo, Kasa) C210Camera · Plug-in, Wi-Fi (2.4 GHz) | 68 | Discretionary | Yes | Yes | Required |
| TP-Link (Tapo, Kasa) C120Camera · Plug-in, Wi-Fi | 68 | Discretionary | Yes | Yes | Required |
| Aqara Smart Video Doorbell G4Doorbell · Battery or wired | 43 | Discretionary | Yes | Partial | Unverified |
| Aqara Camera Hub G3Camera · Plug-in (USB-C), Wi-Fi | 43 | Discretionary | Yes | Partial | Unverified |
| Wyze Cam v4Camera · Plug-in, Wi-Fi (2.4 GHz) | 35 | Legal process | Yes | Partial | Required |
Does Ring share video with police without a warrant?
Ring says it requires a warrant for content but may disclose in emergencies; Amazon told Sen. Markey it did so 11 times in 2022 through July. 1112
Does Google Nest share video with police?
Google requires legal process but has an emergency exception; in 2022 it said it had never used it for Nest. 6
Does Wyze share video with police?
Wyze says government requests must come with a subpoena, search warrant, court order or judgment. 8
Informational only, not legal advice. Found an error? Tell us.
Sources
- Reolink Privacy Policy · checked Oct 22, 2026
- Ubiquiti: How UniFi Protect protects your data · checked Oct 22, 2026
- Amcrest: Privacy protection (apps) · checked Oct 22, 2026
- Amcrest Privacy Policy · checked Oct 22, 2026
- Aqara US Privacy Policy · checked Oct 22, 2026
- The Verge: Which camera companies share video without a warrant (Jul 2022) · checked Oct 22, 2026
- Consumer Reports: Ring, Google, SimpliSafe could share footage with police · checked Oct 22, 2026
- Wyze: Your data request contents explained · checked Oct 22, 2026
- Wyze Privacy Policy · checked Oct 22, 2026
- Arlo: Law enforcement guidelines · checked Oct 22, 2026
- Ring: Law enforcement guidelines · checked Oct 22, 2026
- AP: Amazon gave Ring footage to police without consent (Jul 2022) · checked Oct 22, 2026
- Sen. Markey: Probe into Amazon Ring reveals new privacy problems (Jul 2022) · checked Oct 22, 2026
- Blink Privacy Notice · checked Oct 22, 2026
- TP-Link Tapo Privacy Policy · checked Oct 22, 2026
- TP-Link: Kasa app privacy policy (updated Jan 29, 2024) · checked Oct 22, 2026
- SimpliSafe: Law enforcement guidelines · checked Oct 22, 2026
- SimpliSafe: Camera privacy · checked Oct 22, 2026
- Lorex: Privacy policy (effective Oct 31, 2025) · checked Oct 22, 2026
- ecobee: Privacy notice (effective Nov 27, 2024) · checked Oct 22, 2026
- EZVIZ (US): Privacy policy · checked Oct 22, 2026
- Swann (US): Privacy policy · checked Oct 22, 2026
- Lockly: Privacy policy · checked Oct 22, 2026