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Googles allowed to hand over video/audio (nest products) to police without a warrent

This is old but some still don't know. How do you feel knowing that Google can hand over video or audio recordings from your Nest devices (smart home tech), like cameras, doorbells, or even thermostats, to police without a warrant or your consent?

This isn't a "maybe" it’s confirmed by Google.

Do you think this level of surveillance is justifiable? Or is this another case of Big Tech overreach hidden behind convenience?

Curious how many people here even trust smart home tech…

EDIT: and this goes the same for ring doorbell cameras, "In 2022, Amazon admitted that it handed over Ring camera footage to police 11 times without user consent, all through “emergency request” loopholes."

So this isn't just google of course, its probably many.

We’re sacrificing privacy and security for convenience… and calling it progress.
If they haven't been subpoenaed it is in violation of the 4th amendment in US. 100%. And should be inadmissible in court. But they know since they have a team of lawyers and will win in court nobody will challenge them. If the small chance that someone does they will likely just pay them off (settle out of court).

At least apple refused to unlock that terrorists phone when that shooting happened in cali years ago. The FBI demanded they unlock it within days and did not go through a legal process. Apple stuck to the core principal that all humans have in the US. The Bill Of Rights. Innocent Until Proven Guilty.

Quote:All persons are free by nature and are equal in their inherent and inalienable rights. Among these rights are the enjoyment of life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness, and the acquiring and possessing of property.

(Apr 19, 2025 12:41 PM)200ok Wrote:  This is old but some still don't know. How do you feel knowing that Google can hand over video or audio recordings from your Nest devices (smart home tech), like cameras, doorbells, or even thermostats, to police without a warrant or your consent?

This isn't a "maybe" it’s confirmed by Google.

Do you think this level of surveillance is justifiable? Or is this another case of Big Tech overreach hidden behind convenience?

Curious how many people here even trust smart home tech…

EDIT: and this goes the same for ring doorbell cameras, "In 2022, Amazon admitted that it handed over Ring camera footage to police 11 times without user consent, all through “emergency request” loopholes."

So this isn't just google of course, its probably many.

We’re sacrificing privacy and security for convenience… and calling it progress.

I suppose they legally can, but they shouldn't. That's not the legal process.


(Apr 19, 2025 01:06 PM)Pr0m3th3us Wrote:  If they haven't been subpoenaed it is in violation of the 4th amendment in US. 100%. And should be inadmissible in court. But they know since they have a team of lawyers and will win in court nobody will challenge them. If the small chance that someone does they will likely just pay them off (settle out of court).

At least apple refused to unlock that terrorists phone when that shooting happened in cali years ago. The FBI demanded they unlock it within days and did not go through a legal process. Apple stuck to the core principal that all humans have in the US. The Bill Of Rights. Innocent Until Proven Guilty.

Shouldn't be admissible if users 'own' their data. And, yes, the FBI did go through a court to pressure Apple over the San Bernardino incident.
Although I do nothing illegal and have nothing to fear part of the reason I am dropping Android and Windows and going to Iphone and Mac (Apple) is because they do take privacy and security more seriously and they have directly fought to not allow authorities into devices previously.

I use another company though for my security cameras and will keep using them, the company I use requires a warrant or subpoena, they don't just hand it over for the hell of it.

I will say however my security cameras have caught criminals in the process and each time the police asked me to provide footage I did because that is simply the right thing to do but that doesn't mean I am against security and privacy.
Even though Google blatantly violates users' privacy, I once heard that their devices (phones and laptops), when properly configured, actually offer really good privacy. I don’t know if that’s true, but it’s definitely ironic.
[[Image: VQscHRL.png]
Well this was fine when it was just being used to track down murderers etc.....but now in the USA things are a bit different, so who know what that will lead to.


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