Doorbell anxiety - Lemmy.World

Looking for some perspective on this, interested how y’all think about it and if I’m isolated in my concerns. I’ve grown to be a bit anxious when I’m out and about in any neighborhood. The wide use of doorbell cameras that connect to the internet and save data on company servers, listen in to your conversations [https://www.consumerreports.org/video-doorbells/video-doorbell-cameras-record-audio-too-a4636115889/], and could be used for spying on you as an individual [https://san.com/cc/privacy-experts-see-dangers-in-ring-flock-partnership/] gives me a sinking feeling. I like walking around, I walk my dogs around the neighborhood and I know my neighbors. I’ve started being so aware that it’s changing my habits. I don’t turn my face towards houses while I’m walking if I notice a doorbell camera, and I’ve put my shirt over my face when dropping off something to a neighbor who has one. I probably gave them a fright but I don’t feel like I should’ve expected to be OK with you surviving me in a way that compromises my privacy that expansively. I’m considering keeping a bandana with me to cover my face if I need to go up to a door, but of course that would make people think I’m a bad actor and just a paranoid privacy nut. I feel a bit like Winston in the 1984 novel, always feeling watched and trying to find an isolated corner where I can’t be seen. How have y’all been feeling on this? Would love to get perspective, thanks