Google Acquires Nest: Is It One Step Closer To Being 'Big Brother'?

Is Google (GOOG) one step closer to becoming Big Brother?

The Internet giant is acquiring Nest, a company that makes smart thermostats and smoke alarms, for $3.2 billion in cash. Two former Apple (AAPL) executives, Tony Fadell and Matt Rogers, founded Nest in 2011. Nest's thermostats were designed to reduce a homeowner's heating costs; the device learns its user's behaviors and can adjust the temperature autonomously. A user can also adjust the temperature over Wi-Fi from his or her iPhone or iPad.

By buying Nest, Google now has access to private information that was never under its purview. Rogers addressed privacy concerns in a blog on the Nest website: