Google faces privacy concerns after it announced, in a sudden development, that it would completely eliminate Nest accounts for new users, and urge existing users to move to a unified Google account for a better seamless experience.
As part of the decision, existing users of Nest smart temperature regulators, security cameras and other products will be forced to transfer their information to a Google account.
At its annual Google I / O 2019 Developer Conference last week, the research giant announced a massive restructuring of its smart home product portfolio, making it a Google Nest.
The latest change came as a result of the restructuring of Nest and Google Hardware in February last year.
The announcement drew the attention of some users and experts who say that it gives them less control over the future of their data on Nest devices, so their privacy is at risk, with Google warning that if Nest users choose not to create a Google account, they will lose services and future updates.
Nest, when it was acquired by Google in 2014 for $ 3.2 billion, has pledged to keep data collected from its users separately from other Google services.
Tony Fadell, co-founder and former CEO of Nest, told the BBC in July 2015: "When you work with Nest and use Nest products, this data does not go to Google or any of its other business units. When we talk about becoming As a Google property, this does not mean that the data is open to everyone within the company or even any other business group. "
"We strongly recommend that all our users migrate the account to Google, and owning one account will enable Nest and Google Home devices and services to work more smoothly," Nest said in an article to talk about the shift.
"For example, if you have a Nest heat regulator and Google Home, you can say," Google, make the weather warmer, "to raise the temperature without further steps.
The research giant says it will not use audio recordings and videos collected by Nest devices to target ads or promotions. Similarly, data collected from Nest sensors, which can include things like motion activity or home temperature, will not be used to create Customized ads or promotions.
However, Google can use that data and information to improve its services, customize and develop new services, as well as alert users about relevant products, services and updates.
Nest vowed not to share data from its products with Google's unconnected services. "At this time, this data is not used to personalize other Google services unrelated to your connected home experience, and we will continue to provide new features, Transparent as we do so and give you controls to manage your information. "
Although this shift is appropriate, it does not mean combining two large sets of information that were previously only separate, but risking repeated privacy concerns that became apparent following Facebook's acquisition of Watasab and Instagram.
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