Surprise! People don't want Facebook cameras in their homes.

Who would have thought?
 By 
Jack Morse
 on 
Surprise! People don't want Facebook cameras in their homes.
In a box, where it might just remain. Credit: JOSH EDELSON / getty

Not many people, it turns out, want a Facebook-manufactured camera in their home.

This extremely intuitive revelation comes to us today via Fast Company, which reported that, according to sources at companies which supply parts for Portal cameras, only a "very low" number of the devices are shipping. Who would have thought?

Sure, Facebook is repeatedly embroiled in privacy scandal after privacy scandal, but surely that wouldn't stop anyone from shelling out their hard-earned cash to purchase a Facebook camera that also listens in on their conversations. Oh, wait.


You May Also Like

For the blissfully unaware, Facebook initially launched two versions of the Portal — a dedicated device for video calls — back in in 2018 for $199 and $349. Updated versions of the device, along with a TV-mounted camera, are now on sale, ranging from $129 to $179.

Notably, Facebook has in the past refused to disclosed specific sales numbers for its line of camera-enabled smart devices. Andrew Bosworth, vice president of AR and VR at Facebook, however, has insisted in the past that sales are "very good."

We reached out to Facebook in an attempt to confirm Fast Company's reporting, but received no immediate response. Probably too busy shipping those orders!

Original image replaced with Mashable logo
Original image has been replaced. Credit: Mashable

An important question, of course, is what exactly does "very low" mean? Fast Company cites Rakuten, which monitors online sales, as putting the number at around "0.6% of units sold in the overall smart-speaker category."

Despite Bosworth's refusal to provide sales specifics when pressed as recently as last month at a Portal event in San Francisco, the company decided to push ahead and unveil an entire second generation of the cameras.

Perhaps Bosworth and his team misunderstood the demand after spending too much time reading the positive Portal reviews left on Amazon by people sharing names with Facebook employees? It's impossible to know for sure.

We are relatively certain of the fact, though, that Facebook will push ahead to fulfill its vision of a Facebook-controlled camera in every home — and a corresponding potential privacy disaster in every pot.

Too bad for Facebook that its customer base doesn't appear to feel like obliging.

Topics Facebook

Mashable Image
Jack Morse

Professionally paranoid. Covering privacy, security, and all things cryptocurrency and blockchain from San Francisco.

Mashable Potato

Recommended For You
Ring cameras may plan to track people using AI, according to leaked emails
Three Ring cameras on display.

Ring and Flock Safety cancel partnership amidst surveillance criticism
A Ring Outdoor Cam Pro camera during a media preview at Amazon's headquarters in Seattle, Washington, US, on Wednesday, Sept. 24, 2025.

Former Xbox President Sarah Bond breaks silence after surprise exit
Sarah Bond, president of Xbox at Microsoft Corp., during the Bloomberg Technology Summit in San Francisco, California, US, on Thursday, May 9, 2024


'Good Luck, Have Fun, Don't Die' cast confesses which apps have them addicted to their phones
Sam Rockwell at the junket for 'Good Luck Have Fun Don't Die"

More in Tech

Trending on Mashable
NYT Connections hints today: Clues, answers for April 3, 2026
Connections game on a smartphone

Wordle today: Answer, hints for April 3, 2026
Wordle game on a smartphone


What's new to streaming this week? (April 3, 2026)
A composite of images from film and TV streaming this week.

You can track Artemis II in real time as Orion flies to the moon
Victor Glover and Reid Wiseman piloting the Orion spacecraft
The biggest stories of the day delivered to your inbox.
These newsletters may contain advertising, deals, or affiliate links. By clicking Subscribe, you confirm you are 16+ and agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.
Thanks for signing up. See you at your inbox!