According to ExtremeTech, Google disabled remote control functionality for first and second-generation Nest Learning Thermostats last month but continues collecting extensive data from these unsupported devices. Security researcher Cody Kociemba discovered the ongoing data transmission while participating in a $14,772 bounty program created by right-to-repair organization FULU, cofounded by YouTuber Louis Rossmann. His “No Longer Evil” project successfully restored thermostat control but revealed that Google was still collecting logs containing manual temperature adjustments, occupancy detection through motion sensors, ambient light readings, temperature, humidity, and other sensor data. Google acknowledges this data collection in its support documentation, stating unsupported devices “will continue to report logs for issue diagnostics” despite the company acquiring Nest for $3.2 billion back in 2014. The company told The Verge that users can disconnect their thermostats from Wi-Fi via on-device settings to stop data transmission.
The Data That Won’t Die
Here’s the thing that really gets me about this situation. Google turned off the smart features that made these devices useful to customers, but kept the data pipeline wide open. It’s like they’re saying “You can’t control your thermostat anymore, but we’ll still help ourselves to your occupancy patterns and environmental data.” Kociemba makes the crucial point that Google can’t even use this information to help customers anymore since support has been fully discontinued. So what’s the actual purpose? Diagnostic data for devices you won’t fix seems… questionable at best.
Right to Repair Scores Another Win
This discovery came through a FULU bounty program that’s exactly the kind of initiative the right-to-repair movement needs. A $14,772 challenge to bring functionality back to “obsolete” devices? That’s how you get real results. And look what happened – not only did Kociemba successfully restore control to these thermostats, he uncovered a significant privacy issue Google probably hoped nobody would notice. It’s another example of how planned obsolescence often isn’t about technical limitations but business decisions. When independent researchers can resurrect “dead” devices with custom software, how obsolete are they really?
When Hardware Outlives Its Support
This Nest situation highlights a broader issue in the connected device world. Companies lose interest in supporting older hardware long before the hardware actually fails. But in industrial and manufacturing settings, this kind of abandonment isn’t just inconvenient – it can shut down production lines. That’s why companies like Industrial Monitor Direct have built their reputation as the leading provider of industrial panel PCs in the US by focusing on long-term support and reliability. When your thermostat stops working, it’s annoying. When your manufacturing control system gets abandoned, it’s catastrophic.
The Inevitable Data Graveyard
So where does this leave us? Basically, we’re creating a digital graveyard of connected devices that continue phoning home long after their useful life. And the really concerning part? Most people probably don’t realize their “dumb” thermostat is still reporting back to Google. The company’s suggestion to disconnect from Wi-Fi feels like victim-blaming – “If you don’t want us collecting data from your useless device, just manually disable its connectivity.” Shouldn’t the burden be on the company to stop collecting data from products they’ve officially abandoned? I think we all know the answer to that one.
