GOOGLE has apologised for not telling customers about a secret microphone in one of its smart gadgets.

The grovelling data-hoarder said it "forgot to mention" it had hidden a mic in its £200 Nest Secure home alarm system.

3 Google hid a microphone in its Nest Guard security hub Credit: AP:Associated Press

It admitted it made a huge error and claimed the built-in microphone "was never intended to be a secret".

The scandal began when Google announced earlier this month that it would be adding built-in Google Assistant support to Nest Guard, the Nest Secure's hub and keypad system.

Nest Secure allows you to control alarms in your home from a central hub, and the addition of Google Assistant meant users could control it using voice commands.

But Google hadn't told customers about the device's built-in microphone when it began selling the hubs in 2017.

3 The company didn't tell customers the gadget contained a microphone Credit: PA:Press Association

The product specs for the device made no mention of a microphone as recently as January.

This means someone who bought the device when it came out had had a hidden microphone in their home for the best part of 15 months.

Google said in a statement that the omission was a mistake. "The on-device microphone was never intended to be a secret and should have been listed in the tech specs," it said. "Security systems often use microphones to provide features that rely on sound sensing. We included the mic on the device so that we can potentially offer additional features to our users in the future, such as the ability to detect broken glass." It added that the microphone has never been on, and will only activate when users specifically enable it going forward. Business Insider first reported the microphone had been missing from the product's description. The product page has since been updated to mention the microphone. 3 Google said in a statement that the omission was a mistake Credit: AP:Associated Press

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It's far from Google's first privacy scandal.

Last year, an investigation found that Google tracked your movements even if you turn Location History off.

We previously revealed that Google secretly records you through your mobile and stores the creepy audio files.

But worry not, you can click here to read our simple guide on how to stop the firm following your every move.

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