Facebook launches video-call device ‘Portal’ amid data privacy concerns

Facebook is launching the first electronic device to bear its brand, a screen and camera-equipped gadget intended to make video calls easier and more intuitive.

But it is unclear if people will open their homes to an internet-connected camera sold by a company with a questionable track record on protecting user privacy, Scmp.com reports.

Facebook is marketing the device, called Portal, as a way for its more than 2 billion users to chat with one another without having to fuss with positioning and other controls.

The device features a camera that uses artificial intelligence to automatically zoom as people move around during calls.

Facebook will offer Portal in two sizes – a US$199 model with a 10-inch (25.4 cm) horizontal screen and a US$349 “Plus” version with a 15.6-inch (39.6 cm) screen that can switch between vertical or horizontal orientations.

Both models also include an internet-connected speaker that includes Amazon’s voice-activated digital assistant, Alexa. Portal connects calls through Facebook’s Messenger app, meaning that it can connect calls with people who are not using Portal.

Since Echo’s release nearly four years ago, both Google and Apple have followed Amazon in releasing smart speakers designed for use with their other digital services – some of them, at least.