Smart air fryer and doorbell 'spying' warning issued
Devices connected to an app on your phone such as kitchen appliances and smart speakers may be using your data for 'targeted advertising'.
The Information Commissioner's Office (ICO), which oversees data protection and information rights, say that even your washing machine could be listening and collecting data if connected to your phone.
It comes as the body today (June 16) published its first guidance for developers and manufacturers of smart products, setting out how people's personal information should be collected, used and shared responsibly.
Speaking on Monday, June 16, on Good Morning Britain (GMB), Stephen Almond, executive director for regulatory risk at the ICO, said: 'These devices might be gathering too much information about you.
'Washing machines are gathering your date of birth for targeted advertising to form profiles about you, and it's really important that you have a choice over that type of information.
'You need to be caring about what you are sharing when setting up devices, you need to be thinking about it in the same way of what you put on social media – you wouldn't share everything.'
How to stop smart devices from spying on you
While it is the responsibility of organisations to keep your data safe, the ICO has shared some tips to help people make privacy-conscious purchases. These include:
Do your research – It's important to do some research about which smart product is right for your needs before buying.
Check your permissions – When setting up your product, you have the option to grant it permission to collect certain information. Not all information sharing is necessary for some products to work.
Protect your device – Set up a strong password to keep your device secure and consider two-step verification to add an additional layer of security to your account.
Think about the adverts you want to see – Organisations can use the information your smart product collects to build a detailed picture about you and personalise the adverts you see.
Keep up with the security updates – Updating your software to the latest version can fix bugs and strengthen protection against hackers and cyber criminals. New updates often address any vulnerabilities that could enable hackers to access your data.
Remove your data when it is no longer needed – When getting rid of your smart product, you'll want to be sure that you've removed your information. You can usually erase all information and reset the device via the settings.
An investigation by Which? previously found that smart products were able to collect excessive data from users, often without being transparent.
Speaking alongside Mr Almond on GMB, Andrew Laughlin from Which?, said: 'Devices get your information in a range of ways.
'These devices have become smart, and no one has really thought about the privacy issues if you have a device in your bedroom or where your kids are playing.
'You don't really think about data protection when buying a TV.'
Recommended reading:
If anyone has bought a smart product and still has concerns about how their data is being used, they can visit the ICO's website for advice and support, or make a complaint.
'In our increasingly connected world, we shouldn't have to choose between enjoying the benefits of smart products and our own privacy,' Mr Almond added.
'We rightly have a greater expectation of privacy in our own homes, so we must be able to trust smart products are respecting our privacy, using our personal information responsibly and only in ways we would expect.'
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Makers of air fryers and smart speakers told to respect users' right to privacy
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Sky News
a day ago
- Sky News
Are your smart devices spying on you? Watchdog issues new privacy guidance
The makers of air fryers and other smart home appliances have new guidelines around what information they can collect from people's homes. The Information Commissioner's Office (ICO) released the guidance today after an investigation by Which? revealed in December that some air fryers, smart TVs and smartwatches are collecting data on their owners. "In our increasingly connected world, we shouldn't have to choose between enjoying the benefits of smart products and our own privacy," said Stephen Almond, executive director for regulatory risk at the ICO. "We all rightly have a greater expectation of privacy in our own homes, so we must be able to trust smart products are respecting our privacy, using our personal information responsibly and only in ways we would expect." 2:03 Three air fryers, made by China's Xiaomi, Tencent and Aigostar, recorded audio on their owners' phones for no specified reason, according to the Which? study. The Aigostar and Xiaomi fryers also sent personal data to Chinese servers, although this was flagged in the privacy notice supplied with the product. "Whether it's an air fryer that wants to know your exact location, or a smartwatch app that listens while you sleep, it's clear that some companies have been pushing the boundaries of what's acceptable on privacy," said Andy Laughlin, a tech expert at Which?, in response to the new rules. "ICO's much-needed guidance marks an important first step towards ensuring consumers can have confidence when buying smart products for their home - but this must be backed by effective enforcement, including against companies that operate abroad." Four out of five people in the UK are thought to own at least one smart appliance, according to research by TechUK, and the new guidance is designed to protect them from disproportionate surveillance. The ICO says manufacturers and developers must "adopt a data protection by design and default approach". This means considering data protection while the appliance is being designed and then all the way throughout the lifecycle of the product. The ICO recommends a series of questions developers should ask themselves including: "Do you need to use personal information?" Smartwatches and fitness trackers are also included in the new guidance, with the ICO warning information like a user's BMI or fertility counts as special category data and should be treated with extra caution. Which?'s investigation found the Huawei Ultimate smartwatch requested nine "risky" phone permissions - the most of all the devices in the study. "Risky" permissions generally include knowing the user's precise location, the ability to record audio, access to stored files or an ability to see all other apps installed. Huawei said all of the permissions it asks for have a justified need. There is no suggestion of illegal behaviour by any of the companies mentioned in the study. "We want to help organisations get this right from the start - but we are ready to take action if necessary to protect people from harm," said Mr Almond.
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Smart air fryer and doorbell 'spying' warning issued
Devices connected to an app on your phone such as kitchen appliances and smart speakers may be using your data for 'targeted advertising'. The Information Commissioner's Office (ICO), which oversees data protection and information rights, say that even your washing machine could be listening and collecting data if connected to your phone. It comes as the body today (June 16) published its first guidance for developers and manufacturers of smart products, setting out how people's personal information should be collected, used and shared responsibly. Speaking on Monday, June 16, on Good Morning Britain (GMB), Stephen Almond, executive director for regulatory risk at the ICO, said: 'These devices might be gathering too much information about you. 'Washing machines are gathering your date of birth for targeted advertising to form profiles about you, and it's really important that you have a choice over that type of information. 'You need to be caring about what you are sharing when setting up devices, you need to be thinking about it in the same way of what you put on social media – you wouldn't share everything.' How to stop smart devices from spying on you While it is the responsibility of organisations to keep your data safe, the ICO has shared some tips to help people make privacy-conscious purchases. These include: Do your research – It's important to do some research about which smart product is right for your needs before buying. Check your permissions – When setting up your product, you have the option to grant it permission to collect certain information. Not all information sharing is necessary for some products to work. Protect your device – Set up a strong password to keep your device secure and consider two-step verification to add an additional layer of security to your account. Think about the adverts you want to see – Organisations can use the information your smart product collects to build a detailed picture about you and personalise the adverts you see. Keep up with the security updates – Updating your software to the latest version can fix bugs and strengthen protection against hackers and cyber criminals. New updates often address any vulnerabilities that could enable hackers to access your data. Remove your data when it is no longer needed – When getting rid of your smart product, you'll want to be sure that you've removed your information. You can usually erase all information and reset the device via the settings. An investigation by Which? previously found that smart products were able to collect excessive data from users, often without being transparent. Speaking alongside Mr Almond on GMB, Andrew Laughlin from Which?, said: 'Devices get your information in a range of ways. 'These devices have become smart, and no one has really thought about the privacy issues if you have a device in your bedroom or where your kids are playing. 'You don't really think about data protection when buying a TV.' Recommended reading: If anyone has bought a smart product and still has concerns about how their data is being used, they can visit the ICO's website for advice and support, or make a complaint. 'In our increasingly connected world, we shouldn't have to choose between enjoying the benefits of smart products and our own privacy,' Mr Almond added. 'We rightly have a greater expectation of privacy in our own homes, so we must be able to trust smart products are respecting our privacy, using our personal information responsibly and only in ways we would expect.'
