Is Your Air Fryer Spying on You??
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Is your air fryer spying on you? Concerns over ‘excessive’ surveillance in smart devices
UK consumer group Which? finds some everyday items including watches and speakers are ‘stuffed with trackers’
Air fryers that gather your personal data and audio speakers “stuffed with trackers” are among examples of smart devices engaged in “excessive” surveillance, according to the consumer group Which?
The organisation tested three air fryers, increasingly a staple of British kitchens, each of which requested permission to record audio on the user’s phone through a connected app.
Smart air fryers allow cooks to schedule their meal to start cooking before they get home. Not all air fryers have such functionality but those that do often use an app installed on a smartphone.
Which? found the app provided by the company Xiaomi connected to trackers for Facebook and a TikTok ad network. The Xiaomi fryer and another by Aigostar sent people’s personal data to servers in China, although this was flagged in the privacy notice, the consumer testing body found.
Its tests also examined smartwatches that it said required “risky” phone permissions – in other words giving invasive access to the consumer’s phone through location tracking, audio recording and accessing stored files.
It's a worrying thought that you kitchen appliances may be reporting what they see & hear isn't it! I am glad I haven't got one.
I don't think such devices should be allowed to send such data to a foreign country especially China which is known for abusing data they collect. Really such devices should have the data processed only in the country the product is sold in so these companies can be monitored correctly locally.
BonzoBanana I think it is absurd that they collect any information about you.
In the air fryer category, as well as knowing customers’ precise location, all three products wanted permission to record audio on the user’s phone, for no specified reason.
Why on earth do they need to record audio from your phone. China certainly should be collecting this type of information but, IMO, no-one should be collecting it.
tumblespots I take your point but if you want smart features in devices then some information needs to be shared. Some smart features are voice controlled so could use your phone or a smart speaker device. Some devices like televisions rely on smart speakers as don't have a microphone built in themselves.
BonzoBanana As a technophobe I don't really want any 'smart' tech in my house. I certainly don't feel the need for anyone to collect my information just because I may want to purchase an item that I can no longer buy unless it is 'smart'! I don't control anything from my very basic phone either as it don't connect to the internet.
tumblespots You posted over 9k deals so you cannot be a technophobe, otherwise how would you post that many deals. JK
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