Google has admitted to installing hidden microphones in a home product and not telling customers they were there.

　　谷歌承认在一款家用设备中安装了隐藏麦克风，并且未告知顾客这一情况。

　　The Nest Secure alarm system did not include the microphone as part of its specifications but it was "never intended to be a secret", Google said.

　　谷歌表示，Nest安全报警系统说明书中并不包含麦克风， “但我们本意并非隐瞒”。

　　The hardware feature came to light after Google announced a software update to the Nest Secure system would enable it to use its voice-activated Google Assistant, which is powered by artificial intelligence to answer queries and commands.

　　这个隐藏的硬件因谷歌的一则软件更新公告而曝光于众——Nest安全系统可使用声控的谷歌助手(人工智能动力装置，可应对查询及指令)。

　　Until then, the product web page for the device did not say it contained a microphone. It has since been updated.

　　直到那时，该产品主页上仍未提及包含有麦克风的事实，之后才被更新上去。

　　A Google spokesman said: "The on-device microphone was never intended to be a secret and should have been listed in the tech specs. That was an error on our part. The microphone has never been on and is only activated when users specifically enable the option.

　　谷歌发言人称：“我们并未打算隐瞒设备中包含的麦克风，它应当被列在产品说明书里。这确实是我们的过错。但是麦克风从未被开启，只有当用户特别启用该选项时它才会被启动。”

　　"It is hard to believe Google cares about people's privacy after selling a security product with a secret microphone in it," said Silkie Carlo, director of UK-based privacy campaign group Big Brother Watch.

　　“售卖一款藏着隐形麦克风的安全产品的行为，实在叫人难以相信谷歌当真关心大众隐私。”英国民间维权机构Big Brother Watch负责人斯尔吉•卡洛这样说。

　　"This appears to be deceptive rather than a 'mistake', which is incredibly damaging for public trust in Google. Many of our worries about smart home devices appear to be proving true.“

　　这看起来是一场欺诈， 不是“错误”二字就能带过的。此举将极大挫伤公众对谷歌的信任。这样看来，许多有关智能家用设备的担忧，是不无道理的。”