Is your air fryer spying on you? How your household gadgets are collecting your data – and sharing your secrets
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AIR fryers could be spying on their owners, according to a report. Apps linked to the £45 Xiaomi Mi Smart fryer and Aigostar's fryer, which costs £57, were found to be demanding permission to listen in on conversations. A Which? investigation found Xiaomi's app is connected to trackers from Facebook, TikTok's ad business Pangle and fellow Chinese tech giant Tencent.
![[Aigostar's fryer, which costs £57, wanted to know the date of birth of the user]](https://www.thesun.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/www-amazon-co-uk-xiaomi-946532154.jpg?strip=all&w=960)
While Aigostar's fryer even wanted to know the gender and date of birth of the user when setting up an owner account. Smart device surveillance is a growing issue among apps, as many consumers simply tap away permission requests without realising what they have allowed.
![[The £45 Xiaomi fryer's app is connected to trackers]](https://www.thesun.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/www-amazon-co-uk-xiaomi-946532155.jpg?strip=all&w=733)
The UK's information watchdog, Information Commissioner's Office (ICO), is due to publish new rules on how consumers' data can be used in spring next year. The guidance will also be used to dictate how transparent businesses must be in terms of what their data collection is for.
ICO policy adviser Slavka Bielikova said: "Smart products know a lot about us – who we live with, what music we like, what medication we are taking and much more. "We would expect a smart product to only use and collect the personal data it needs to provide its functions.".
Researchers found that these apps collected far more "risky" data than what was necessary for the product. The apps wanted to track the customers precise location, as well as the ability to record audio on the users phone. The reasons why that data is necessary or wanted are not explained when permission requests pop up inside the apps, according to Which?.
