Google: Hidden Microphone

It's another case where people have to look over their shoulder — to see if their electronic devices are looking over their shoulders. Google says it forgot to mention that it put a microphone in its Nest Secure home alarm system. Earlier this month, Google said its voice assistant would be part of the system's Nest Guard, which controls home alarm sensors. But Google didn't let on that the devices had built-in mics when they went on sale in the fall of 2017. Google says it was a mistake — and notes the microphone isn't automatically active. The forgotten microphone isn't Google's first run-in with user privacy issues. Last year, an AP investigation found Google was tracking users' location information through its apps and search services, even if users turned the feature off.