In 2017, iRobot CEO Colin Angle suggested Roomba might sell floor plan data to tech giants. The company quickly backtracked. But the concern never went away—and now it's back. What Your Roomba Knows Modern robot vacuums collect: Detailed floor plans of every room Furniture locations and dimensions Cleaning patterns and frequency Room identification (bedroom, kitchen, etc.) Obstacle locations (your stuff) The 900-series and newer have cameras and WiFi. They're not just vacuums—they're mapping devices. The Amazon Acquisition (RIP) In 2022, Amazon tried to buy iRobot for $1.7 billion. Privacy advocates panicked. The Fear: Amazon + Ring + Alexa + Roomba = Complete home surveillance The Outcome: FTC investigation for privacy and antitrust concerns EU regulators prepared to block Deal cancelled January 2024 Amazon paid $94 million termination fee iRobot laid off 31% of staff The China Sale (2026) After bankruptcy, iRobot announced it would sell to China's Picea Robotics for $190 million. New Concerns: Chinese ownership of American home layout data National security implications What happens to existing customer data? iRobot CEO claims data is "protected and staying in the US." We'll see. The Official Policy iRobot officially claims: No data sales to third parties No advertising/marketing use without consent Users can disable cloud sharing The Reality: Terms of service give broad latitude to share with "subsidiaries" and "vendors" De-identified data is still valuable Policies change with ownership Staying Informed Disable cloud connectivity if you don't need app features Use older models without WiFi/cameras Read privacy policies carefully Consider privacy-focused alternatives The Lesson: If your vacuum is "smart," it's also a surveillance device.