Er, actually...
"... nobody is forcing anybody to have them installed...
A while back, I needed a new boiler. When I saw the quotes, I noticed that they all included a NEST "smart" thermostat, which I immediately questioned.
According to the fitters, UK law requires at least one "energy saving measure" be applied when a new boiler is installed, with the smart thermostat apparently being the one of choice (given Google Home devices are/were being given away with BT broadband sign-ups, I would not be surprised if there was some kind of deal behind this).
Of course, my response was a more polite version of "I don't want that Google spy-crap in my home thanks, what's the alternative?" I probably paid a little more in the end, too. But at least I know that my thermostat isn't listening to every word I say...
And I can't help but wonder how many homes now have a Google listening device in them simply because of current legislation...
Biting the hand that feeds IT
