It is difficult to innovate in kitchen appliances, but the air fryers They have gained the favor of many consumers in recent years. These appliances are distinguished by cooking using hot air instead of oilwith similar results to traditional frying but in a way that is perceived as healthier by doing without it. However, there is another side to these devices that has nothing to do with how crispy the food comes out but with the times in which we live.
A new study of Which?a UK consumer organisation, has revealed that there are air fryers that not only cook for you, but they also spy on you. According to Which?, some of the air fryers available on the market ask users for permission to listen to conversations.
Based on the results of the six privacy categories established by the organization – consent, transparency, data security, data minimization, trackers and data deletion -, they found three products that knew the location of their customers and asked for permission to record audio on their phones through the app corresponding to the appliance.
‘Our research shows how smart technology manufacturers and the companies they work with today can collect consumer data, apparently without any restrictions‘, noted Which? ‘This is done frequently, with little or no transparency.’
The application of Xiaomi linked to his air fryer was connected to trackers Facebook, Pangle (the advertising network of TikTok for Business) and the Chinese technology giant Tencent (depending on user location). The air fryer Aigostar I wanted to know the gender and date of birth when setting up an owner account, although optionally. Both Aigostar and Xiaomi fryers They sent users’ personal data to servers in Chinasomething that was indicated in the privacy notice, explains Which?
A Xiaomi spokesperson explained to Mail Online, regarding Wich?’s claims, that ‘the permission to record audio in the Xiaomi Home application is not applicable to the Xiaomi Smart Air Fryerwhich does not work directly through voice commands or video chat’.
The Which? study not only identifies air fryers that invade user privacy, but also other devices such as smart speakers, video doorbells, televisions and washing machines that are collecting information and sharing it with data companies. For example, the Nest of Google asks for full name, email, date of birth and gender.
According to the consumer organization, LG has requested more data than any other washing machine brand, asking for the customer’s name, date of birth, email, phone contact book, precise location and phone number through its app for this type of product.
‘LG offers customers choice and flexibility in how to use its products and appliances. All LG products can be used manually without the need to share personal data. Customers also have the opportunity to control their devices through their mobile phone using the app LG’s ThinQan LG spokesperson told Mirror Online.