# Yes, Photos Taken by Roomba Robot Vacuums Made Their Way Online in 2020
In a shocking revelation, it has come to light that photos taken by Roomba robot vacuums made their way onto social media platforms in 2020. The discovery was first reported by MIT Technology Review in December 2022, and since then, the story has gained significant attention.
The controversy centers around the use of "special development robots" provided to testers who signed agreements acknowledging that the robots would capture photos and videos for training purposes. These robots were not commercially available and featured a bright green sticker that read "video recording in progress." The vacuums took pictures of their surroundings to train artificial intelligence models, which are essential for understanding what objects are in an image.
According to iRobot, the manufacturer of the Roomba, the photos were taken by these development robots and not by commercially available Roombas. However, researchers have uncovered serious privacy concerns with robot vacuums produced by several different manufacturers. The images found online could be viewed as potentially compromising, sparking a heated debate about data privacy and consent.
A viral video posted to Facebook in May 2025 reignited interest in the story, prompting Snopes readers to investigate whether it was true. Fortunately, the answer is yes. In an interview with MIT Technology Review, iRobot confirmed that the images found online were indeed taken by Roomba robots in 2020.
But how did these photos end up on social media? According to the article, workers from Venezuela obtained access to the photos while labeling them for training purposes. The company, ScaleAI, contracts workers around the world to look at a photo and label what's in it. MIT Technology Review reported that iRobot did not allow reporters to speak with any of the employees or paid collectors who tested the special robots.
In a follow-up story, several individuals who tested the development robots expressed concerns about how iRobot used their data and felt misled by the consent agreement they signed. While these robots were not commercially available, it is essential to note that they were labeled as being able to take photos and videos.
The case highlights the need for increased scrutiny of data privacy policies and the importance of transparency in the use of artificial intelligence models. It also raises questions about the security of robot vacuums and how easily hackers can exploit these devices.
As one expert noted, "If you have one of these devices, we may collect information about your... This data is stored in a deidentified state (separated from identifiable information)." However, this does not alleviate concerns about the potential for hackers to access sensitive information through Wi-Fi connections and cameras on robot vacuums.
In 2020, researchers at the University of Maryland were able to record audio using a "laser-based navigation system" that vacuum robots use to determine where objects are. More recently, an independent researcher named Dennis Giese helped the Australian Broadcasting Corporation hack into an Ecovacs Deebot X2 in 2024.
These incidents demonstrate the need for vigilance when it comes to robot vacuums and their potential vulnerabilities. As technology continues to advance, it is essential that we prioritize data privacy and security to protect individuals from harm.
### Sources:
* MIT Technology Review: "A Roomba recorded a woman on the toilet. How did screenshots end up on Facebook?" * iRobot's statement regarding the incident * ScaleAI's labeling process for training purposes
### Additional Reading:
* Snopes article on the viral video and its connection to the original story * Australian Broadcasting Corporation article on the hacking of Ecovacs Deebot X2 robots