Warning for ANYONE with a Google Nest doorbell that records footage

ANYONE who owns a Google Nest doorbell has been warned that footage could be handed to authorities in emergency situations.

And they could even do it without a warrant.

Google has several Nest video doorbellsCredit: Photograph: Lance/Nest

The tech giant’s own policies reveal that it “may provide information to a government agency” in extreme situations.

Such action would apply if they “reasonably believe” that doing so could prevent someone from dying or from suffering serious physical harm.

This could be in serious situations like bomb threats, school shootings, kidnappings, suicide prevention, and missing persons cases.

Amazon has a similar policy for Ring, which has led to 11 requests being fulfilled so far this year.

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But Google has told 9to5Mac that’s it’s yet to actually share footage in this way to date.

Nevertheless, the company says it believes it’s “important” to reserve the right to do so.

A spokesperson told CNET that Google “may disclose information to law enforcement without a subpoena or a warrant” – at least in the US, under the Electronic Communications Privacy Act.

The piece of law in question states content may be provided “if the provider, in good faith, believes that an emergency involving danger of death or serious physical injury to any person requires disclosure without delay of communications relating to the emergency”.

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But the spokesman said Google tries to give users notice when something like this occurs.

Other video doorbell makers, such as Arlo, Eufy and Wyze, have said they would never give video out without a warrant first.

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Some devices, including Nest, offer end-to-end encryption.

For anyone concerned about their footage being obtained, switching end-to-end encryption on prevents pretty much anything from seeing your recordings.