Warning issued after report finds air fryers may be spying on their owners
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Air fryers may be listening in on people’s conversations, a rather dystopian report has revealed. The Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO) is issuing new data protection guidance to device to manufacturer’s after a report by Which? revealed some air fryers collect information on their owners.
Three brands, made by Chinese companies Xiaomi, Tencent and Aigostar, wanted to record audio on their owner’s phone. But the companies failed to specify why they wanted to do this. Aigostar and Xiaomi fryers also sent people’s personal data to servers in China.
And it is not just your air fryers, smart TVs made by Hisense and Samsung also asked for people’s postcodes. Samsung’s TV app also asked for permission to be able to see all the other apps on the user’s phone. Huawei Ultimate smartwatch requested nine ‘risky” phone permissions’, including users’ precise locations, the ability to record audio and access files.
The company said all of the permissions it asks for have a justified need. An ICO spokesperson said its fresh guidance for firms next year will ‘outline our clear expectations for what they need to do to comply with data protection laws and, in turn, protect people using smart products’.
They said in a statement: ‘It will cover areas including how to ask for consent, how to provide privacy information and what tools need to be available for people to exercise their rights. ‘The upcoming guidance will provide clarity on our expectations for manufacturers, allowing them to plan and invest in the use of information responsibly.
