Those concerned about their privacy following Google's announcement that it had purchased the smart thermostat maker Nest for $3.2 billion last week can now rest a little easier as a guarantee from Nest's CEO, which says the app-connected appliance system that tracks schedules to regulate the temperature of your home, will not simply hand over its users' data to Google.
Nest is currently not planning any modifications to its privacy policy and any future modifications will be "transparent" and "opt-in," according to Tony Fadell at the DLD Conference in Munich on Monday.
According to NBC News, Nest is best known for its "Learning Thermostat" technology, which can figure out the owner's daily habits and "earn" not to blast cool air though the house on a hot summer's day while the owner is out at work from nine to five.
Obviously this data is a bit sensitive, especially to the extra security conscious. As a result, Nest has been working hard to put users' fears to rest since the acquisition announcement. The company posted a Q&A-style explanation on Jan. 15 dedicated entirely to the post-Google Nest, including an assurance that its "privacy policy clearly limits the use of customer information to providing and improving Nest's products and services. We've always taken privacy seriously and this will not change."
The post went on to discuss Nest's plans for how it will work in relation with Google while still giving its customers the privacy and service that they have become accustomed to.
"Will Nest and Google products work with each other?" the blog post read. "Nest's product line obviously caught the attention of Google and I'm betting that there's a lot of cool stuff we could do together, but nothing to share today."
Tell us what you think about Nest's most recent comments about privacy? Do you believe the company when it says that it will be keeping its users' information safe despite being owned by the titan of technology that is Google? Comment and share your thoughts with us below.
