Images attached to the camera of iRobot robot vacuum cleaners took their place on social networks. This was reported in a study published by MIT Technology Review.

Media writers drew attention to photos of unknown people in the home environment that appeared on social networks as early as 2020. According to experts, the photos were taken by iRobot robot vacuum cleaners equipped with cameras. In this context, experts accused household appliances of following their owners.

According to the authors, photographs taken by the robots show a young woman sitting on the toilet. Also in the photo is a boy lying on the floor and looking curiously at the camera of the vacuum cleaner. The photo archive contains pictures of the interiors of houses. The article says that smart devices can harm users’ privacy.

Experts contacted iRobot’s representatives and learned that the photos found on the network were sent by one of the company’s partners, who assisted iRobot in training smart devices. The company also noted that the people in the photos are participants of the robot training project and that they consent to the processing of their personal data. However, due to a flood of images on social networks, iRobot stopped working with the partner.

As a result, the study’s authors noted that robot vacuums that follow their owners are just the beginning. According to experts, consumers who buy smart gadgets often have no idea that smart devices can spy on them.