Milpitas to Offer Free Doorbell Cameras to Residents for Crime Prevention

The Silicon Valley city aims to strengthen neighborhood-level security through a new program distributing Amazon Ring devices.

Mar. 31, 2026 at 6:55pm by Ben Kaplan

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An extreme close-up photograph of a doorbell camera lens, the harsh flash illuminating the device's details against a pitch-black background, conceptually representing the surveillance and privacy issues surrounding the Milpitas crime prevention program.The Milpitas doorbell camera program aims to strengthen neighborhood security, but raises concerns about expanded surveillance and privacy rights.San Francisco Today

The city of Milpitas, located in the heart of Silicon Valley, has approved a $60,000 program to provide free wireless doorbell cameras to residents in an effort to deter crime and assist police investigations. The Milpitas Police Department will distribute one camera per household on a first-come, first-served basis, with plans to hold a public giveaway event. While some privacy advocates have raised concerns about such surveillance systems, city officials believe the program will help strengthen the connection between the community and law enforcement to protect neighborhoods.

Why it matters

Milpitas, a technology hub in the Bay Area, is taking a proactive approach to crime prevention by empowering residents with free security devices. However, the program has drawn scrutiny from civil liberties groups who warn about the potential expansion of surveillance and privacy risks associated with doorbell camera systems.

The details

The Milpitas City Council approved $60,000 to fund the doorbell camera program, which will distribute Amazon Ring devices to residents on a first-come, first-served basis. The Milpitas Police Department will oversee the program and hold a public giveaway event to kick it off. Unlike traditional Ring cameras, the devices provided through this program will not require a monthly subscription fee, reducing cost barriers for participation. The city also stated that existing digital evidence upload procedures will allow police to easily obtain footage from the cameras when needed for investigations.

  • The Milpitas City Council approved the $60,000 program on March 31, 2026.
  • The Milpitas Police Department plans to begin the program with a small batch of cameras and hold a public giveaway event.

The players

Milpitas City Council

The governing body of the city of Milpitas, California that approved the $60,000 funding for the free doorbell camera program.

Milpitas Police Department

The law enforcement agency in Milpitas that will oversee the distribution of the free doorbell cameras and work with residents to help deter crime and gather video evidence.

Evelyn Chua

A Milpitas City Councilmember who introduced the idea for the free doorbell camera program after learning about a similar effort in San Leandro.

American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU)

A civil liberties advocacy group that has raised concerns about how doorbell camera systems like Amazon's Ring can expand surveillance and raise privacy issues.

Electronic Frontier Foundation (EFF)

A digital rights organization that has expressed additional concerns about features like facial recognition and AI-powered video analysis in doorbell camera systems, as well as the potential for footage to capture non-consenting individuals.

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What’s next

The Milpitas Police Department plans to begin the program with a small batch of cameras and hold a public giveaway event, with additional distributions possible if demand is high.

The takeaway

Milpitas' free doorbell camera program highlights the ongoing tension between public safety and privacy concerns in the age of smart home technology. While the city aims to empower residents and strengthen community-police partnerships, civil liberties groups warn about the potential for expanded surveillance and non-consensual data collection, raising important questions about the balance between security and individual rights.