Ring is moving forward with a privacy-first encryption rollout. Starting next month, the smart home camera brand is implementing a new standard called TAKE (Throw Away the Key Encryption), which will become the default for cloud features globally. The move aims to balance robust privacy with cloud-powered functionality.
What is TAKE and how it’s different
TAKE employs a system of rotating encryption keys temporarily stored in the cloud. Ring can access these keys temporarily to power cloud features—like Smart Alerts identifying people, vehicles or packages—but deletes them within 24 hours of use. Under the new setup, users are the only ones who retain long-term access to their video keys, ensuring private control over their recordings.
This system diverges from traditional end-to-end encryption (E2EE) in that Ring can decrypt videos temporarily for certain features. The company says full end-to-end encryption tends to limit capabilities such as video search, content description, and sharing access with “trusted users.” TAKE is designed to unlock those while maintaining privacy safeguards.
Recovery options and technical base
The new standard is built on Messaging Layer Security (MLS), an open messaging framework from the Internet Engineering Task Force. For scenarios like replacing lost devices, Ring provides recovery options including standing near an active Ring camera, using passphrases, cloud backups, approved devices, or passkeys. These methods help users reauthenticate and access their videos safely when needed.
While TAKE will become the global default starting in September, users will still have the option to choose end-to-end encryption instead. The phased rollout means the change won’t affect all users at once, allowing gradual adoption of the new encryption paradigm.
Ring’s push for stronger encryption comes amid mounting privacy concerns. The company’s Familiar Faces feature—which uses facial recognition to identify individuals—has drawn legal scrutiny. In one case, a class-action suit in June accused Amazon of collecting images of people passing by Ring devices without consent.
Why this matters: Ring’s adoption of TAKE represents a serious attempt to reconcile user privacy with cloud-based convenience. Traditional E2EE systems, while secure, can hamper functionality. TAKE is an effort to offer a middle ground: helpful cloud features that don’t betray user privacy. But the success of this approach hinges on transparent operations, reliable recovery mechanisms, and how industry regulators view the trade-offs. Users should watch for how well Ring executes this from September onward, and how secure the temporary key access and prompt deletion process really are.
