Google has admitted that it made an error in not informing customers that the Nest Secure has a built-in microphone. It came to light that a microphone was included when Google pushed an update earlier this month which enabled voice control capabilities. According to the web firm, it never intended the microphone to be a secret. In a statement, a Google spokesperson said:
“The on-device microphone was never intended to be a secret and should have been listed in the tech specs. That was an error on our part.”
While many people are buying smart speakers, many others are worried about the technology’s “always on” nature, believing it could be abused. The fact that Google didn’t bother to mention this microphone on the Nest Secure may only shore up people’s general suspicions about smart speakers as a whole.
Concluding the statement, the spokesperson said:
“The microphone has never been on, and is only activated when users specifically enable the option. Security systems often use microphones to provide features that rely on sound sensing. We included the mic on the device so that we can potentially offer additional features to our users in the future, such as the ability to detect broken glass.”
Since issuing the statement, Google has also added the fact that the device has a microphone under the Audio and lights section on the device’s tech specs page.
Source: Business Insider