Air fryer can spy on you. “Overloaded with tracking software”

According to British consumer organization Which?, some devices such as smartwatches and speakers are “overloaded” with tracking systems. The group of devices suspected of excessive surveillance includes, among others, air fryers that collect users’ personal data, and smart speakers.

Spy fryer

Which? conducted tests on three models of air fryers, increasingly popular in British kitchens. Each of them required consent to record sound using an application connected to the user’s phone. Smart air fryers offer features that let you start cooking before you get home, but the apps associated with these devices often have extensive permissions.

The consumer organization found that the Xiaomi air fryer app was connected to Facebook tracking tools and the TikTok advertising network. Xiaomi and Aigostar fryers sent personal data to servers in China, but this was included in the privacy policy.

The tests also included smartwatches, which, according to Which? required “risky” phone permissions – such as access to location, sound recording or files saved on the user’s device. The digital speakers, reviewed by Which?, were equipped with tracking tools from Facebook, Google and marketing company Urbanairship.

The office responds

The UK Data Protection Authority (ICO) admitted that Which? indicate that many products do not meet consumer expectations and data protection standards. The ICO, an independent regulator for data protection and civil rights, is preparing new guidelines for manufacturers of smart devices, which are to be published in spring 2025. It is expected that the guidelines will clearly set out requirements for compliance with data protection regulations and the protection of user privacy.

Harry Rose, editor of Which? magazine, accused smart technology manufacturers of collecting user data with little or no transparency. Rose called for the new ICO guidelines to be supported by effective enforcement measures, including against foreign companies.

Xiaomi responded to Which?’s report, emphasizing that protecting user privacy is one of their core values. The company assured that it complies with British data protection law and does not sell personal data to third parties. She also clarified that “the audio recording function in the Xiaomi Home app does not apply to the smart air fryer, which does not work directly via voice commands or video chats.”