Following a backlash to comments he made in an interview with Reuters that raised the idea of selling off the data of customers, iRobot CEO Colin Angle has cleared the air around his earlier statements.
Insisting that “iRobot does not sell data as our customers always come first”, he told ZDNet that the company “will never violate their trust by selling or misusing customer-related data, including data collected by our connected products.”
“Right now, the data Roomba collects enables it to effectively clean the home and provides customers with information about cleaning performance. iRobot believes that in the future, this information could provide even more value for our customers by enabling the smart home and the devices within it to work better, but always with their explicit consent.”
“You may also want your robot to work with other connected devices in your home. For this to work, we will also require your permission, and we will always ensure secure means of communication between devices.”
According to Angle, “Together, we’re creating a future where robots help people live richer lives and ultimately retain their independence as they age. These conversations are useful in that they allow for clarity in our mission and commitments to our customers – and to have our commitment challenged and tested.”
