Google Apologizes for Undisclosed Microphone in Nest Secure System
Google admits it made an error by failing to list a hidden microphone in the tech specs of its Nest Secure home security system. The omission comes to light as the company rolls out a Google Assistant update for the device.
Google faces backlash after revealing that its Nest Secure home security system contains a hidden microphone. The company discloses this hardware feature while announcing a new update that allows the device to support Google Assistant, leaving many owners surprised to learn their alarm system has audio recording capabilities.
A Google spokesperson admits that the on-device microphone is never intended to be a secret and acknowledges that its absence from the technical specifications is an error. The company insists the microphone remains off by default and only activates when users manually enable the option, noting that security systems often use microphones for sound sensing features like detecting broken glass.
This revelation occurs at a particularly sensitive time for consumer privacy, following recent audio glitches involving other major tech companies. While adding Google Assistant functionality makes sense for unifying smart home devices, failing to disclose a microphone on a product explicitly marketed as a "secure" system raises significant concerns among privacy-conscious consumers.