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EPIC FTC Nest Google

EPIC wrote to the FTC Chairman regarding reports that Google installed hidden microphones in Nest Secure home security devices without consumers' knowledge or consent. EPIC had previously complained to the FTC about privacy concerns over Google's acquisition of Nest. EPIC argues the FTC should now take enforcement action against Google, requiring divestment of Nest and disgorgement of consumer data collected through the hidden microphones.

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Bryan Logan
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19K views

EPIC FTC Nest Google

EPIC wrote to the FTC Chairman regarding reports that Google installed hidden microphones in Nest Secure home security devices without consumers' knowledge or consent. EPIC had previously complained to the FTC about privacy concerns over Google's acquisition of Nest. EPIC argues the FTC should now take enforcement action against Google, requiring divestment of Nest and disgorgement of consumer data collected through the hidden microphones.

Uploaded by

Bryan Logan
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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February 20, 2019

Chairman Joe Simons


Federal Trade Commission
Washington, D.C.

Dear Chairman Simons and Members of the Commission,

We write to you about the reports that Google installed secret microphones in Nest Secure
devices.1 Consumers recently discovered that the home security system contained a hidden
microphone after Nest announced a software update that allows Nest devices to double as Google
Home Assistants. It is entirely unclear whether Google, a remote hacker, or anyone else enabled the
microphones in the Nest devices after they were installed by customers in their homes.

In 2014, EPIC filed a complaint with the Commission regarding a related merger review and
noted specifically that the “Commission clearly failed to address the significant privacy concerns
presented in the Google acquisition of Nest.”2 EPIC said at the time that the “early termination”
approval of the Google/Nest merger was surprising given the Commission’s extensive consideration
of the Google acquisition of Doubleclick.3 EPIC said also that the “Commission clearly failed to
address the significant privacy concerns presented in the Google acquisition of Nest.”

The Commission should have conducted a more rigorous review. And Google’s claim that
this was an oversight is hard to take seriously after it was revealed, over the company’s strenuous
objections, that the company’s “Street View” vehicles were intercepting wireless communications
and downloading passwords and private emails. But it is not too late. The FTC should now
commence an enforcement action against Google with the aim of divesting the company of Nest and
requiring also that Google disgorge the data it wrongfully obtained from Nest customers.

Sincerely,

/s/ Marc Rotenberg /s/ Christine Bannan


Marc Rotenberg Christine Bannan
EPIC President EPIC Consumer Protection Counsel

Cc: Senate Commerce Committee


House Energy and Commerce Committee
Attorney General (regarding possible violations of the Federal Wiretap Act)

1
Nick Bastone, Google says the built-in microphone it never told Nest users about was 'never supposed to be
a secret, Business Insider (Feb. 20, 2019), https://www.businessinsider.com/nest-microphone-was-never-
supposed-to-be-a-secret-2019-2
2
EPIC, In the Matter of WhatsApp Inc., (Mar 21, 2014) (Supplemental materials),
https://epic.org/privacy/internet/ftc/whatsapp/WhatsApp-Nest-Supp.pdf
3
Fed. Trade Comm’n, Early Termination Notices, 200140457: Nest Labs, Inc., and Google, Inc., (Feb. 4,
2014), http://www.ftc.gov/enforcement/premerger-notification-program/early-termination-notices/20140457.

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