Skip to main content

Google VP says guests should be informed if you have smart devices in the home

Consumer privacy is a tightrope act that no company has quite managed to nail down and that some seem to have given up on. In a recent interview with the BBC that followed Google’s event in New York, Rick Osterloh, the senior vice president of devices and services, said that homeowners might want to consider disclosing the presence of smart devices before they invite guests into their home.

The statement follows a string of incidents involving Google devices. In July, a Belgian company discovered that third-party transcriptionists were used to review Google Home and Google Assistant recordings — and that those recordings had captured private, personal information without the user’s knowledge. Last month, a hacker terrorized a family through their Nest smart thermostat. Google assured the homeowners the attack was not the result of a security breach, but had no other answers.

Recommended Videos

Smart home devices receive an unfiltered view into your home, but proper privacy practices have seemed like a secondary consideration for some time. Nest’s cameras have an LED that is always on when the camera is in recording mode (and it can’t be overwritten by the user), but knowing a camera is recording is different from knowing when a smart assistant is recording conversation it isn’t meant to hear.

While homeowners can take precautions with their smart devices (like reviewing what it has heard and deleting recordings they don’t want it to have), telling Nest users to inform guests that they might be recorded is a strange request. However, the new Nest devices are built with security features, including a mode that has the assistant listening at all times for “critical sounds,” most often defined as the beep of a carbon monoxide detector or smoke alarm.

The devices can also record independently of user commands, which means users might not realize the Nest has been activated. While the four LEDs on top of a Nest Mini (and the corresponding lights on the Nest Hub Max) should indicate the device is listening, the method is not foolproof. With devices like these, Google should take more steps to prevent accidental activations and enable stronger user privacy options rather than ask users to inform guests they might be recorded.

Patrick Hearn
Patrick Hearn writes about smart home technology like Amazon Alexa, Google Assistant, smart light bulbs, and more. If it's a…
The best smart home tech of IFA 2024
The IFA 100 sign outside the South Hall in Berlin.

IFA 2024 is in full swing, with cutting-edge companies across the globe showing off their hottest new releases. The smart home industry is out in force at the event, with hundreds of cool products spread out across the massive show grounds. From robot vacuums and smart refrigerators to robot lawnmowers and more, the future of your home is on display at IFA 2024.

After perusing hundreds of booths and going hands-on with tons of different electronics, here are the best smart home products of IFA 2024.
Roborock Qrevo Curv

Read more
Should you enroll your Amazon Smart Thermostat in the Energy Savings Program?
The Amazon Smart Thermostat hanging on wall.

The Amazon Smart Thermostat can be enrolled in a variety of Energy Savings Incentives Programs. These vary by location, but they essentially work to lower your energy bills by allowing the utility company to temporarily adjust your settings. This typically happens during peak hours or when the power grid is overloaded, allowing the utility company to reduce stress by manipulating your thermostat. Amazon says these events only happen a few times annually (commonly during the summer). Are the energy savings worth the inconvenience?

Here's a quick look at the Energy Savings Incentives Programs offered on the Amazon Smart Thermostat and whether or not you should enroll.
What are Energy Savings Incentives Programs

Read more
Nest Learning Thermostat (4th Gen) vs. Amazon Smart Thermostat: Which is best for your home?
The Amazon Smart Thermostat.

Smart thermostats are an easy way to upgrade your home's heating and cooling skills, and few products are as popular as the Amazon Smart Thermostat and Google Nest Learning Thermostat (4th Gen). The two offer many of the same basic features, though you'll find a handful of drastic differences between the devices -- starting with their price tag.

From pricing and design to installation and available features, here's a closer look at the Nest Learning Thermostat (4th Gen) and Amazon Smart Thermostat to help you decide which is better for your smart home.
Pricing and design

Read more