According to new research conducted by the company Which, smart air fryers collect their users’ personal data with little or no transparency.
Which? tested three smart air fryers that enable users to schedule their operation remotely and discovered that all three apps connected to these devices requested permission to access audio recording. While not all air fryers are smart, those typically require an app installed on a smartphone.
For example, Xiaomi’s smart air fryer app connects to Facebook advertising trackers and TikTok’s advertising network. In contrast, according to the study, the Aigostar app transmits data to servers in China, which is disclosed in the privacy policy.
Other smart devices, such as smartwatches and smart speakers, perform “excessive tracking” of users.
Xiaomi responds that respecting users’ privacy is one of its core values and that it complies with UK data protection laws. “We do not sell personal information to third parties,” the company stated. “The audio recording permission in the Xiaomi Home app does not apply to the Xiaomi smart fryer, which does not operate directly through voice commands or video.”
The UK Data Protection Agency encourages consumers to be “selective about who receives their data” and to understand that some data companies encourage them to share during the installation of connected device apps is not necessary for the product to function.
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