Nest CEO assures transparency in privacy policy changes post Google takeover

Smart-home startup Nest’s acquisition last week sent a wave of surprise through the tech world. Most people, especially ones who were already using Nest’s products, we concerned whether this acquisition would affect the company’s data collection and privacy methods. Nest’s chief executive has now asserted that the company would make all privacy policy alterations opt-in. In an interview at the DLD Conference in Munich, Tony Fadell has assured transparency in Nest’s changes in the future. The Next Web has reported that Fadell ensures that any changes to the privacy policy made to Nest’s products and services will be made opt-in features, rather than opt-out ones. “At this point, there are no changes,” Fadell explained. “The data that we collect is all about our products and improving them.” Of course, Fadell is not currently ruling out future changes to Nest’s privacy policies, post the acquisition by Google. "If there are ever any changes whatsoever, we will be sure to be transparent about it, number one, and number two, for you to opt-in to it,” he said. He also spoke about his meetings with Larry Page as well as other Google executives over the course of the months that it took for the companies to finalise the acquisition. “The two way interchange of what was for me intellectual happiness and the stimulation of being able to go back and forth, and really create a new world together – and in a different way than either of us had imagined – that was personally exciting to me,” he said. Google announced its purchase of Nest Labs for a whooping $.32 billion and seems to have some plans for the company up its sleeve. Google, however, did make one thing clear – the company would continue to operate independently under Fadell, who is also well known for having kickstarted the iPod’s long career at Apple. Nest Labs has been a prime player when it has come to the “Internet of things” niche and this will only strengthen its position further. For those not in the know, the niche caters to making everyday objects adhere to Internet-like structures. Undoubtedly set to be the next big thing, Google has already started betting its money on the field.