Dan GillmorSep 23, 2023

That "smart lighting" from Philips is about to spy on you in new ways you can't control -- naturally the company is claiming it's to protect you. This is Trump-level lying.

https://www.home-assistant.io/blog/2023/09/22/philips-hue-force-users-upload-data-to-cloud/

[Update Oct 2: data sharing to become optional] Philips Hue will force users to upload their data to Hue cloud

To control your lights you soon need to create an account and share your data with the Hue cloud.

Home Assistant
Show threadBrianKrebs

@dangillmor "When asked what drove this change, the answer is the usual: security. Well Signify, you know what keeps user data even more secure? Not uploading it all to your cloud."

You know what makes your data more secure than storing it on your computer? Storing on ours! Haha!

Sep 23, 2023 at 12:12pmWeb
Show threadLuka RubinjoniSep 23, 2023
@briankrebs @dangillmor HueHue
Show threadSean SullivanSep 23, 2023
@briankrebs Forcing sign-in allows for admins and users to be defined. Before, _everybody_ was an admin. (And there are plenty of situations in which that's not a great idea.)
Show threadFixsternSep 23, 2023
@5ean5ullivan @briankrebs probably, but why not allowing local accounts and forcing everyone to a cloud account instead?
Show threadSean SullivanSep 23, 2023

@dunkelstern @briankrebs I don't use "smart" Hue features. I just adjust the color/brightness of my lights during the winter months (in Helsinki). So, I get wanting just a local account.

But bridges can also be used to control cameras and motion sensors. And kids can foul up lighting configurations. So there really needs to be a variety of permissions/roles available.

The only practical way to offer a just a local account, would be a local server. Not a bridge. And that just seems like a whole other can of worms.

In any case, like or not is a matter of opinion, but I respectfully disagree that Philips is "lying".

Show threadFixsternSep 23, 2023
@5ean5ullivan @briankrebs i get that some features make more sense with a cloud server (how would remote access to a security camera work without jumping through many hoops, etc.) but for configuration local accounts on a bridge should be no problem. I don’t mind if i have the option to use a cloud account and loose some features if i do not want to. But forcing users of a previously local only system to get a cloud account and sync with that is just shitty.
Show threadDudley of Yesterzine Sep 23, 2023
@5ean5ullivan @briankrebs Which is fine but none of those scenarios applies to me so why should I have to?