Your air fryer or smart TV might know a lot more about you than it seems. Between personal data collection and invisible tracking, your privacy is at stake.
A recent report from the British consumer association Which? reveals that some air fryers are discreetly collecting personal data from their users. These connected home devices can transmit sensitive information without users being aware of it. In addition to air fryers, other smart equipment like televisions and connected watches are also called into question for their sometimes excessive data collection practices.
Air fryers in spy mode
Modern air fryers are popular for their efficiency and health benefits. However, behind their innocuous appearance, some hide data collection features. The Which? notes that several models record personal information, such as users’ locations, which they then send to remote servers. For example, the Aigostar and Xiaomi models transmit this data to servers located in China. This is a practice that worries consumers who are generally poorly informed about these manipulations.
Some air fryers use their control apps to collect much more extensive information than simple technical data. According to the report, Xiaomi’s app collects personal information, which it then transmits to advertising networks such as Facebook and Pangle, from TikTok. These transmissions escape users’ attention because they are hidden in lengthy application terms of use, which are rarely read in detail.
Smart televisions, spies in our living rooms
Smart televisions are no exception to these practices, despite persistent criticism for several years. According to the report, some models like those from Samsung require many “risky” permissions at setup time. These permissions include microphone access to record sounds and the precise location of the user. Even if some information remains optional, others remain mandatory. This fuels the growing distrust of these devices.
Smart watches are not left out. For example, the watch Huawei Ultimate requests nine sensitive data permissions. Although Huawei defends the necessity of these requests to optimize the user experience, the collection of detailed data on users’ health and location increases the risks of commercial exploitation of this personal information.
Tips to protect your privacy
Despite these practices, you can limit the intrusion of these devices into your privacy. First of all, control the permissions of each application on your smartphone. Refuse those that seem intrusive or superfluous to you. On iOS, go to the privacy settings to restrict access to data like location and microphone. On Android, go to Security & Privacy settings to adjust permissions. Finally, take the time to read the terms of each application. You will then know what information is collected and will be able to adapt your choices accordingly.
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