Google could soon be watching your home, as Smart Thermostat maker Nest acquires Dropcam for $555 million (£326m).
With Google having taken over Nest at the start of the year, the home automation specialist now looks set to get in on the home monitoring and security game after confirming the acquisition of Dropcam – a San Francisco-based start-up which has been making internet-connected home monitoring cameras for five years.
Although Nest has revealed that Dropcam products will continue to be sold through existing channels for the time being, the company suggested it plans to use Dropcam’s specialities to produce new Nest products which will let you keep an eye on your home.
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He added: “Eventually, the plan is for us to work together to reinvent products that will help shape the future of the conscious home and bring our shared vision to more and more people around the world.”
With concerns continuing to circle the slightly questionable privacy record of Nest’s parent company, Rogers was keen to stress that Google will not be able to access the video content of any products which will result from the Dropcom takeover.
“Once the deal closes, we’ll incorporate Dropcam into how we do business at Nest,” he stated.
“That includes how we handle everything from customer support to customer privacy. Like Nest customer data, Dropcam will come under Nest’s privacy policy, which explains that data won’t be shared with anyone (including Google) without a customer’s permission.”
Rogers failed to indicate how long it will take Nest to produce its first connected home monitoring cameras.
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Editorial independence
Editorial independence means being able to give an unbiased verdict about a product or company, with the avoidance of conflicts of interest. To ensure this is possible, every member of the editorial staff follows a clear code of conduct.
Professional conduct
We also expect our journalists to follow clear ethical standards in their work. Our staff members must strive for honesty and accuracy in everything they do. We follow the IPSO Editors’ code of practice to underpin these standards.
