Google fails to disclose microphone in Nest Secure

[February 21, 2019]  (Reuters) - Alphabet Inc's Google said on Wednesday it had made an "error" in not disclosing that its Nest Secure home security system had a built-in microphone in its devices.

 The Google logo is pictured at the entrance to the Google offices in London, Britain January 18, 2019. REUTERS/Hannah McKay/File Photo

Earlier this month, Google said https://www.blog.google
/products/assistant/nest-secure-google-assistant Nest Secure would be getting an update and users could now enable its virtual assistant technology Google Assistant on Nest Guard.

The device's published specifications did not mention a microphone, however the updated product page https://nest.com/alarm-system/tech-specs/#nest-guard-heading now mentions one.

"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. The microphone has never been on and is only activated when users specifically enable the option," Google said.

Business Insider first reported the news on Tuesday.

Nest, which Google acquired for $3.2 billion in 2014, sells video doorbells, security cameras and thermostats that automatically adjust settings based on user behavior.

Alphabet merged Nest, which had operated as an independent unit, into its Google hardware group last year.

(Reporting by Arjun Panchadar and Akanksha Rana in Bengaluru; Editing by Shounak Dasgupta

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