'Spying' warning to anyone with a smart air fryer, coffee machine or doorbell
Air fryers, coffee machines and doorbells connected to your phone could be gathering 'too much' of your personal information, experts have warned.
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.'
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:
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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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'Spying' warning to anyone with a smart air fryer, coffee machine or doorbell
Air fryers, coffee machines and doorbells connected to your phone could be gathering 'too much' of your personal information, experts have warned. 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.' 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: Tower air fryers once sold at Asda recalled due to fire risk 'Do not eat': Pies sold at Tesco, Asda, Sainsbury's and more recalled RAC issues warning to UK drivers as one in six guilty of MOT mistake 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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