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iRobot (Roomba) shares customer data with Google and other affiliates

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Re: iRobot (Roomba) shares customer data with Google and other affiliates

#31

Post by cronix »

johnchristopher wrote: post #8
cronix wrote: post #4

Earlier quoted context omitted.

It's another reason why I quite using fitbit. There is no reason at all you need internet connectivity to send the data 3 feet from the device to the phone via bluetooth. They don't need to collect the data at all, and since there is no opt-out, I just quit using it.

Did you replace it with anything ?

No. I go on regular walks on a regular route, so I know how far it is after using it a few times. I don't really need to know down to the step how far I walked each day, just that I at least did what my goal is.

Re: iRobot (Roomba) shares customer data with Google and other affiliates

#32

Post by dgzl »

toomuchtodo wrote: post #25
technofiend wrote: post #6

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I don't disagree but the attitude in corporate America is simply anything for profit is good and justified. iRobot will happily argue their service will cost more unless they share your data when what they really mean is you'll have to offset this new revenue stream for them if you want them to stop.

So it all comes back to regulation, right? iRobot does this because there is no law against it. AT&T is walking back its selling of location data after the online outrage kicked in, but they'll go back to selling it once everyone has forgotten. Facebook and Google sell your data because there is no law against it. Push your legislator(s) for regulation of your data privacy rights. It is the only way these encroachmen…

edit: lost interest in the battle. /Whiteflag

Re: iRobot (Roomba) shares customer data with Google and other affiliates

#33

Post by danielparks »

ardy42 wrote: post #23
CamelCaseName wrote: post #15

The title is needlessly alarmist. The linked privacy policy covers the various robots as well as irobot.com and their mobile apps. Most of the comments here are about their robots so let me copy and paste the relevant passage from the policy below: Information We Collect from Registered Devices Equipped with Smart Technology. Some of our Robots are equipped with smart technology which allows the Robots to transmit da…

> Some of our Robots are equipped with smart technology which allows the Robots to transmit data wirelessly to the Service. As far as I know all their current Roomba lineup is equipped with that technology. I actually just bought the last non-wifi Roomba I could find, specifically to avoid it.

You don’t have to connect the Roomba to the Internet. My 690 isn’t connected and it works fine.

Re: iRobot (Roomba) shares customer data with Google and other affiliates

#34

Post by [deleted] »

dgzl wrote: post #32
toomuchtodo wrote: post #25

Earlier quoted context omitted.

So it all comes back to regulation, right? iRobot does this because there is no law against it. AT&T is walking back its selling of location data after the online outrage kicked in, but they'll go back to selling it once everyone has forgotten. Facebook and Google sell your data because there is no law against it. Push your legislator(s) for regulation of your data privacy rights. It is the only way these encroachmen…

edit: lost interest in the battle. /Whiteflag

[deleted]

Re: iRobot (Roomba) shares customer data with Google and other affiliates

#35

Post by mkagenius »

CamelCaseName wrote: post #15

The title is needlessly alarmist. The linked privacy policy covers the various robots as well as irobot.com and their mobile apps. Most of the comments here are about their robots so let me copy and paste the relevant passage from the policy below: Information We Collect from Registered Devices Equipped with Smart Technology. Some of our Robots are equipped with smart technology which allows the Robots to transmit da…

> The title is needlessly alarmist.

Yup. Flagged.

Re: iRobot (Roomba) shares customer data with Google and other affiliates

#36

Post by technofiend »

dgzl wrote: post #32
toomuchtodo wrote: post #25

Earlier quoted context omitted.

So it all comes back to regulation, right? iRobot does this because there is no law against it. AT&T is walking back its selling of location data after the online outrage kicked in, but they'll go back to selling it once everyone has forgotten. Facebook and Google sell your data because there is no law against it. Push your legislator(s) for regulation of your data privacy rights. It is the only way these encroachmen…

edit: lost interest in the battle. /Whiteflag

I realize you're being sarcastic but customers don't agree to it in any reasonable sense: shrinkwrap agreements are notoriously long winded and obscure and there is usually no way to opt out. iRobot knows if the product actually said "Shares your personal data" on the box it would negativity affect sales.

So yes I agree with the person above you who said regulation is the answer. If you make it impossible to share data then it's not longer a revenue stream or a competitive advantage and companies can focus their efforts on improving the product for the consumer to drive profit rather than milking the customer for data and selling it.

Re: iRobot (Roomba) shares customer data with Google and other affiliates

#37

Post by cronix »

dgzl wrote: post #32
toomuchtodo wrote: post #25

Earlier quoted context omitted.

So it all comes back to regulation, right? iRobot does this because there is no law against it. AT&T is walking back its selling of location data after the online outrage kicked in, but they'll go back to selling it once everyone has forgotten. Facebook and Google sell your data because there is no law against it. Push your legislator(s) for regulation of your data privacy rights. It is the only way these encroachmen…

edit: lost interest in the battle. /Whiteflag

So, it's stated clearly on the outside of the box so you can read it and make an informed decision before you purchase it? Or is it hidden inside, in tiny print on a leaflet somewhere for you to discover after you've brought it home and opened it? Or you have to go to the website and hunt for the "revised" version?

Re: iRobot (Roomba) shares customer data with Google and other affiliates

#39

Post by dvfjsdhgfv »

andr wrote: post #18

If you scroll up from where the link sends you, you will see a section called “Information We Collect from Registered Devices Equipped with Smart Technology“, which completely negates the premise in the title.

I always wonder how many people read only titles. In this case it's enough to glance the fragment in question to realize the title is imprecise.
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