Airfryers are on the rise. They allow you to cook food without using oil, but with hot air. A good service provided but at what price? According to a study by the British consumer association Wich, certain models of connected Airfryers do not hesitate to collect personal data, reports The Guardian.
The association has identified three models. One of the fryers is produced by the Chinese giant Xiaomi, another by the company Aigostar and a last one by the American brand Cosori. These products are associated with applications running on smartphones. Thus, the one provided by Xiaomi is linked to Facebook trackers and a TikTok advertising network. Wich established that the two Chinese models transmitted personal data of fryer users to servers in China. “In addition to knowing the precise location of customers, the three products wanted authorization to record sound on the user's phone, for no specific reason,” the study specifies.
Xiaomi denies
Xiaomi believes it has nothing to reproach itself for, indicating that respect for user privacy was one of its fundamental values. “We do not sell any personal information to third parties,” clarified the Chinese firm. He added: “The permission to record audio on the Xiaomi Home app does not apply to the Xiaomi Smart Air Fryer which does not operate directly via voice commands and video chat. »
Wich has tested a large number of connected devices. A common point emerged. “All devices tested wanted to know the precise location of users,” the study said. The consumer association believes that “manufacturers are currently able to collect excessive data from consumers, often with little transparency on how it will be used.”
