In the United States and most of Europe, there is generally no "reasonable expectation of privacy" in public. If a neighbor walks past your house on a public sidewalk, they are fair game for your doorbell camera.

The system, which they had researched extensively, promised to provide a comprehensive security solution, complete with motion detection, night vision, and alerts to their smartphones. The cameras were sleek and discreet, easily blending into the exterior of their home. John and Emily felt reassured, knowing that their home was now being watched over by a digital eye.

Cloud-based systems routinely upload footage to third-party servers for processing (e.g., identifying a person). This metadata—when you leave for work, how often you have visitors, what delivery services you use—is commercially valuable. Some terms of service allow parent companies to share anonymized data with law enforcement without a warrant (a controversial practice known as the "Neighbors" app integration, though policies have shifted following public backlash).