The red light on Elias’s hallway camera blinked like a tiny, watchful eye. When he first installed the "Omni-Guard" system, he felt a profound sense of relief. After a string of local porch thefts, the ability to check his front door from his smartphone was a digital security blanket. But three months in, the blanket started to feel heavy. It began with the notifications. “Person detected in Backyard.”

Disable facial recognition AI unless you truly live in a rural, isolated area. Stick with simple "Person Detection" rather than "Who is this person."

Transparency reduces suspicion and builds trust.