3 devices analyzed. Set your privacy comfort level to filter.
What we found
Ecobee Thermostat: CKnows when you're home, when you sleep, and your daily routine. Shares data with your energy company.
The device has a built-in always-on radar sensor for occupancy and proximity detection that continuously monitors which rooms in your home are occupied and tracks movement patterns 24/7. This generates an extremely detailed map of when you are home, which rooms you use, and your daily routine — data far more invasive than what is needed to adjust a thermostat. Combined with the built-in microphone (for Alexa/Siri), the device can simultaneously monitor physical presence AND audio in your home.
BRP069C4x WiFi Controller: CDaikin's main privacy policy does not mention that their WiFi controller collects your temperature settings, usage patterns, and home occupancy data — even t...
The BRP069C4x WiFi controller continuously transmits data to Daikin Cloud servers (cloud.daikineurope.com, api.onecta.daikineurope.com, daikinsmartdb.jp). The Data Access and Sharing Notice (daikinmea.com) confirms collection of 13 data categories including status data, sensor readings (temperature, humidity), usage data (user preferences, interaction patterns), telemetry metrics, and location information. The global privacy policy that most users would find omits all of this.
Nest Thermostat (2020): CGoogle promises your Nest sensor data won't be used for ads.
Google explicitly admits that 'the text of' Assistant voice interactions (transcripts) MAY be used to inform interests for ad personalization. The Texas AG $1.375 billion settlement (2025) found Google collected voiceprints through Google Assistant on Nest devices without adequate disclosure and deceived users about data collection practices. The privacy commitment creates a false impression of separation when transcripts of what you say to your thermostat can feed the ad machine.