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Govee Smart Lights (lemmy.ca)

submitted 1 month ago by Policeshootout@lemmy.ca to c/privacy@lemmy.ml

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My wife bought some Govee Smart LED string lights. We have VLANs setup in our house to isolate IoT devices and setup the new lights on that WiFi. But when we use the app to control them it requires an account and precise and "while using app" location data. The app does not work at all without enabling permissions for location.

Am I being paranoid? This wasn't an initial setup thing the app is unusable without location enabled.

She really wants smart LED lights for outside the house. Is there an option anyone knows of that might be a bit more privacy oriented?

Thanks.

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[–] Tolookah@discuss.tchncs.de 13 points 1 month ago* (last edited 1 month ago) (4 children)

Unfortunately, it's probably for Bluetooth, as those permissions seem to be linked.

But, for lights, if you're handy, look into xlights / fpp, it's the software that some holiday lightshow people use, and it's great, but involved. Similarly, wled software runs on esp32 chips and can control lights, but again, you need to be handy enough to set it up.

Edit: home assistant seems to have created access to the local API for govee, https://www.home-assistant.io/integrations/govee_light_local/ but that still might be more than you want to deal with.

[–] dysprosium@lemmy.dbzer0.com 5 points 1 month ago (2 children)

Bluetooth and gps permissions are linked? Why in the ass of logic is that reasonable? My Bose app required gps for connecting to headphones. I didnt see the logic

[–] Policeshootout@lemmy.ca 1 points 1 month ago (1 children)

Apparently it's to detect nearby devices so that you don't have to pair the traditional way.

The other thing that bothers me about these lights is they have a built in microphone that listens for music playing and can adjust the lights to match the music. I haven't looked myself but some users on Reddit have posted about the amount of network activity with Govee cloud and Google Analytics being very high.

If I can isolate them from accessing the internet and connect through Home Assistant locally then I may keep them.. These are sort of a trial run for future permanent Christmas/Occasion lights on the outside of the house.

[–] ForgotAboutDre@lemmy.world 3 points 1 month ago

Google uses WiFi and Bluetooth info for location tracking. So they can track you when you don’t have GPS switched on. WiFi names, MAC address are correlated to locations by google.

So google infers any app that has WiFi or Bluetooth access can track you like they do.

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