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Re:Google says Nest’s built-in mic not listed in specs was n... by TeMPOraL on Wednesday February 20, 2019 @01:55AM (#19206146)
A fair point, but then again, if people don't react to #2 now, how long until it turns into #1?

Things would be much simpler if companies were up front about what they're selling, instead of giving you incomplete information optimized to placate the unsophisticated buyers.

Re:Google says Nest’s built-in mic not listed in specs was n... by btown on Wednesday February 20, 2019 @02:25AM (#19206271)
Disclosure of things like microphones on internet-connected devices is the type of no-brainer regulation that our regulatory bodies should be promoting. No need for real behavior changes, no need for giant Surgeon General's warnings, just a mention in printed user documentation, the same way products attest that they aren't in violation of FCC regulations on airwaves. There can be a healthy debate about whether this needs to go even further, e.g. legally requiring what Apple does for its laptop cameras in that a hardware light is lit whenever the recording system is powered up. But at least documentation-level transparency seems like a no-brainer. Unfortunately our regulatory bodies seem incapable of common sense these days, but that's a topic for another day.