Smart Thermostats and Your Privacy: What You Need to Know

Smart thermostats collect various types of data, including account data, energy management data, usage data, and pro data, which helps companies understand how people use their thermostats.

Smart thermostat companies primarily use the collected data for internal analysis, but may also share data with third-party companies for additional analysis, marketing opportunities, and product development.

Smart thermostat companies must obtain explicit customer permission to share data with third-party connections, and comply with data protection regulations.

Smart thermostats do not have the capability to access video or audio of your home, but some advanced thermostats may connect to other devices that could potentially allow for video or audio access.

Some thermostats, such as Nest, allow you to turn off learning or presence sensing functions, but this may limit the functionality of the thermostat.

Brands should have their privacy policies posted online, and you can learn more by visiting their websites or contacting their customer support.

By visiting the websites or contacting customer support, you can learn more about your specific thermostat's privacy policies and make informed decisions about your data.

Resideo's Honeywell Home and Ecobee appear to do well when it comes to third-party data sharing, and Ecobee has a strong privacy background.

Nest has a good track record of protecting its own data, but its approach to data collection is more nebulous.

By doing your research and understanding the privacy policies of different brands, you can make informed decisions about your data and choose a thermostat that meets your needs.