Netatmo’s HD video indoor security cameras come with a cool smart face recognition feature that lets you tell which faces Netatmo should know, like Grandma or your neighbor, and allow you to tell the camera to not record when it sees these faces. That’s a pretty cool privacy feature. And then these cameras can tell you when it doesn’t recognize a face and send you an alert, like when a burglar breaks into your home. That’s all cool stuff. Netatmo also doesn’t record video to the Cloud, which is another great privacy feature. All video is recorded locally on an encrypted MicroSD card. You have the option to save it to Dropbox if you want. Good work Netatmo, we’re impressed.
What could happen if something goes wrong?
We love that Netatmo offers only local storage on a MicroSD card as that’s generally a much safer way to save your video than storing it in the Cloud. And because Netatmo is headquartered in France, it appears their privacy policy applies Europe’s stricter GDPR privacy regulations to all their data collection, which is great for users. They don’t sell data. They are very cautious about who they share data with.
We love that Netatmo seems to take privacy and security seriously. It’s a great thing to see from makers of security cameras. What’s the worst that could happen? Well, we suppose your camera could not recognize Grandma one day, record her dancing naked in the house when no one is home, you see that video and you’re all like, heck yeah Grandma, you dance naked! All in all, there are worse things that could happen.
Tips to protect yourself
- Check out Netatmo security tips.
- Store video locally as much as possible rather than in the Cloud.
Can it snoop on me?
Camera
Device: Yes
App: Can’t Determine
Microphone
Device: Yes
App: Can’t Determine
Tracks location
Device: Yes
App: Yes
What can be used to sign up?
Yes
Phone
Yes
Third-party account
No
What data does the company collect?
Personal
Name, contact details. Location is optional (only if using the app)
Body related
Social
How does the company use this data?
How can you control your data?
What is the company’s known track record of protecting users’ data?
A minor security vulnerability was found in 2020 by the security review team Bitdefender. According to Bitdefender, Netatmo acknowledged and fixed the problem quickly.
Can this product be used offline?
User-friendly privacy information?
Security FAQ for the device is available
Links to privacy information
Does this product meet our Minimum Security Standards?
Encryption
Strong password
Security updates
Manages vulnerabilities
Privacy policy
Does the product use AI?
When the Smart Indoor Camera identifies a face for the first time, it is marked with a question mark on the app. However, you can create a new profile, giving the person a first name, and configure their confidentiality settings. Once the profile is saved, the Camera will be able to recognize the person and notify you of their presence. You can save up to 32 faces.
Is this AI untrustworthy?
What kind of decisions does the AI make about you or for you?
Is the company transparent about how the AI works?
Does the user have control over the AI features?
Dive Deeper
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Personal data protection and smart devices: what precautions should be taken?Netatmo
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Personal data protection and smart devices: what precautions should be taken?Netatmo
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Exclusive: Netatmo Patches Security Hole in Indoor CameraPC Mag
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Exclusive: Netatmo Patches Security Hole in Indoor CameraPC Mag
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The best smart security cameras for any budget in 2021Wired
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The best smart security cameras for any budget in 2021Wired
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