{"id":5293,"date":"2017-08-06T12:41:39","date_gmt":"2017-08-06T12:41:39","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.ftcguardian.com\/articles\/?p=5293"},"modified":"2017-08-13T20:42:05","modified_gmt":"2017-08-13T20:42:05","slug":"roombas-have-been-busy-mapping-our-homes-and-now-that-data-could-be-shared","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.ftcguardian.com\/articles\/roombas-have-been-busy-mapping-our-homes-and-now-that-data-could-be-shared\/","title":{"rendered":"Roombas have been busy mapping our homes, and now that data could be shared"},"content":{"rendered":"

Roombas have been busy mapping our homes, and now that data could be shared<\/h1>\n

By\u00a0Dani Deahl<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n

Over the past couple of years, Roombas haven\u2019t just been picking up dust\u00a0and chauffeuring cats around, they\u2019ve also been mapping the layout of your home. Now, Colin Angle, the chief executive of Roomba maker iRobot, has said he wants to share the data from these maps in order to improve the future of smart home technology.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>Roomba owners can opt out of cloud-sharing functions within the iRobot Home app, but technically, the iRobot terms of service and\u00a0privacy policy\u00a0say they have the right to share your personal information. The information is buried, laden in legal language, and,\u00a0asGizmodo<\/em>\u00a0points out, includes this clause which could allow iRobot to sell the information without consent:<\/p>\n

\n

[We may share your personal information with] other parties in connection with any company transaction, such as a merger, sale of all or a portion of company assets or shares, reorganization, financing, change of control or acquisition of all or a portion of our business by another company or third party or in the event of bankruptcy or related or similar proceeding.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n

Most don\u2019t thoroughly comb over entire terms of service agreements and privacy policies before agreeing to use apps and products. While blame could easily be placed on the user, the power dynamic between service and consumer gives tech companies\u00a0leverage to exploit their customers.<\/p>\n

<\/a><\/p>\n

\u201cSure we have a Terms of Service Agreement and a plain-English Privacy Policy,\u201d said the CEO in the apology post, \u201cbut the reality is most of us \u2014 myself included \u2014 don't take the time to thoroughly review them.\u201d<\/p>\n

Read full article and learn more about Terms of Service and Privacy Policy here<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Here\u2019s How To Make Sure You,\u00a0Your Business & Website Is FTC Compliant<\/h2>\n

By now it should be clear how important it is for you to be FTC compliant. But how can you do that without spending $7,500-$8,000 or more on Internet Attorneys?<\/p>\n

Smart business owners around the world are doing it with the help of FTC Guardian.<\/p>\n

FTC Guardian is a service that is 100% focused on helping to keep you get and stay FTC compliant and fully protected.\u00a0And right now, we are offering a free training to give you the knowledge, information, and guidance that you need to stay out of trouble with the Federal Trade Commission.<\/a><\/p>\n

Free Compliance Workshop: Join Chip Cooper, Esq., the #1 FTC Compliance trainer in the World, for a one-of-kind, completely free online compliance workshop. Workshops fill up quickly, so register now.<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n

Here are some of the things you\u2019ll discover on the training:<\/p>\n