Anker offered Eufy camera owners $2 per video for AI training

Anker, the maker of Eufy security cameras, launched a campaign earlier this year offering users $2 per video of package or car thefts to help train its AI systems for better theft detection. The initiative encouraged users to submit both real and staged videos, even suggesting users stage theft events to earn more money, with payments made via PayPal. The campaign ran from December 18, 2024, to February 25, 2025, aiming to collect 20,000 videos each of package thefts and car door thefts. Over 120 users reportedly participated, and Eufy has since continued similar programs, including an in-app Video Donation Program that rewards users with badges, gifts, or gift cards for submitting videos involving humans. The company claims the videos are used solely for AI training and are not shared with third parties. However, concerns about privacy and data security persist. Eufy has a history of misleading users about the encryption of their camera streams, as revealed