Google says Nest’s built-in mic not listed in specs was not meant to be secret

Re:Google says Nest’s built-in mic not listed in specs was n... by TeMPOraL on Wednesday February 20, 2019 @03:25AM (#19206475)

> I don't expect consumer products to have "microphone (disabled)" for unused hardware

This should absolutely be the expectation. A note of "microphone (disabled in software)" at minimum. Since when is it OK for a company to sell you a product with hidden functionality that can be used to harm you by either the manufacturer or third parties?

(The obvious defense is that they're not selling it to you, they're renting it out. Such is the pathology of turning products into services. It's a sick market dynamic.)

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Re:Google says Nest’s built-in mic not listed in specs was n... by sl1ck731 on Wednesday February 20, 2019 @01:02PM (#19210194)

How many things built into products have obsolete hardware or unused functionality that would have to be listed? I understand being reactionary to a microphone but where is the line? How do you draw it?

Do I need to list all the capabilities of some SoC even if I don't take any advantage of them? If a component has thermal sensors I'm not using do I have to list every one of them on the box?

[ Parent | on HN ]