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Nest Cam status lights can no longer be turned off for privacy

androidpolice.com

11–20 of 51 posts

Re: Nest Cam status lights can no longer be turned off for privacy

#11

>As it turns out, many people use these security cams to secure their homes and don't want thieves to know that they're being watched I don't get this argument. The whole reason the fake security camera market exists is to deter crime by giving the illusion of being actively watched; if you want to play spy and switch it off to prove a person's true nature it is your business, but at the end of the day the crime has…

I think it's a mix of people who like using their camera's to spy on family/guests/neighbors, and people who just genuinely do not know the camera works better as a deterrent then as evidence.

Re: Nest Cam status lights can no longer be turned off for privacy

#13
post #11

>As it turns out, many people use these security cams to secure their homes and don't want thieves to know that they're being watched I don't get this argument. The whole reason the fake security camera market exists is to deter crime by giving the illusion of being actively watched; if you want to play spy and switch it off to prove a person's true nature it is your business, but at the end of the day the crime has…

I think it's a mix of people who like using their camera's to spy on family/guests/neighbors, and people who just genuinely do not know the camera works better as a deterrent then as evidence.

If this was an exterior camera, I would agree. But if someone is already in my home, I feel like them seeing the camera light isn't going to make them turn around and leave but it could lead to them destroying my camera and then I would lose evidence of their next moves.

Maybe the camera should contain a switch allowing me to choose which mode the LED should work in (on when being viewed, always off, or always on).

Re: Nest Cam status lights can no longer be turned off for privacy

#14
post #2

The privacy of whom? Google seems to favoring the privacy of those who might be recorded by the camera. The owners of the cameras object. I'm not entirely sure why: do they expect privacy while recording others?

I think that has to be it. I'm really surprised that people are objecting to having a "camera active" light.

Re: Nest Cam status lights can no longer be turned off for privacy

#15
post #5

Not hard to work around... open the device up, desolder or just cover up the LED? Or if you’re lazier, electrical tape on the exterior... Works for all kinds of annoyingly bright status LEDs!

maybe im too much of a consumer, but I bought a pack of led dimming stickers like the ones linked below to cover all the status lights on my computers and such cause I hate led lights in my house at night. https://www.amazon.com/LightDims-Original-Strength-Electroni...

A black magic marker would work too.

Re: Nest Cam status lights can no longer be turned off for privacy

#16

>As it turns out, many people use these security cams to secure their homes and don't want thieves to know that they're being watched I don't get this argument. The whole reason the fake security camera market exists is to deter crime by giving the illusion of being actively watched; if you want to play spy and switch it off to prove a person's true nature it is your business, but at the end of the day the crime has…

Cameras are expensive, it is advertising your house is full of goodies.

Re: Nest Cam status lights can no longer be turned off for privacy

#17
post #5

Not hard to work around... open the device up, desolder or just cover up the LED? Or if you’re lazier, electrical tape on the exterior... Works for all kinds of annoyingly bright status LEDs!

Yeah real simple when it has a huge round circle of light https://cnet4.cbsistatic.com/img/rNMc3Qrlhua2ngFDHaVKbP53ZAU...

Re: Nest Cam status lights can no longer be turned off for privacy

#18
I'm pissed because the whole point of an outdoor camera is to not advertise when someone is watching. If they don't back pedal on this I'm switching to ubiquity and running my own NVR so I don't have to worry about someone in california deciding to change how a product I own works.

Re: Nest Cam status lights can no longer be turned off for privacy

#19

How about don't put Google surveillance cameras in your home? You don't "own" anything Google or Microsoft sells you. You are licensing their tech and you are their bitch when they decide to pull the rug out from under you. People tolerate such abusive, anti-consumer behavior and invasion of privacy all in the name of convenience. In any relationship people have an ethical responsibility to not enable abusive behavio…

Indeed.

Basically, by buying this stuff, you're saving on having an actual engineer come out and install standard PoE cameras or similar. (A techie would do it themselves of course, most won't.)

The downside is that Google owns you.

Oops.

Re: Nest Cam status lights can no longer be turned off for privacy

#20
post #16

>As it turns out, many people use these security cams to secure their homes and don't want thieves to know that they're being watched I don't get this argument. The whole reason the fake security camera market exists is to deter crime by giving the illusion of being actively watched; if you want to play spy and switch it off to prove a person's true nature it is your business, but at the end of the day the crime has…

Cameras are expensive, it is advertising your house is full of goodies.

No cameras must mean no goodies, then?
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