Latest news with #StephenAlmond
Yahoo
15 hours ago
- Yahoo
'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.'
The Guardian
16 hours ago
- The Guardian
Makers of air fryers and smart speakers told to respect users' right to privacy
Makers of air fryers, smart speakers, fertility trackers and smart TVs have been told to respect people's rights to privacy by the UK Information Commissioner's Office (ICO). It comes amid complaints that people feel powerless to control how data is gathered, used and shared in their own homes and on their bodies. After reports of air fryers designed to listen in to their surroundings and public concerns that digitised devices collect an excessive amount of personal information, the data protection regulator has issued its first guidance on how people's personal information should be handled. It is demanding manufacturers and data handlers ensure data security, are transparent with consumers, and ensure the regular deletion of collected information. Stephen Almond, executive director for regulatory risk at the ICO, said: 'Smart products know a lot about us: who we live with, what music we like, what medication we are taking and much more. 'They are designed to make our lives easier, but that doesn't mean they should be collecting an excessive amount of information … we shouldn't have to choose between enjoying the benefits of smart products and our own privacy. '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.' The new guidance cites a wide range of devices that are broadly known as part of the 'internet of things', which collect data that needs to be carefully handled. These include smart fertility trackers that record the dates of their users' periods and body temperature, sends it back to the manufacturer's servers and makes an inference about fertile days based on this information. Smart speakers that listen in not only to their owner but also to other members of their family and visitors to their home should be designed so users can configure product settings to minimise the personal information they collect. Sign up to First Edition Our morning email breaks down the key stories of the day, telling you what's happening and why it matters after newsletter promotion The regulator said manufacturers needed to be transparent with people about how their personal information was being used, only collect necessary information, and make it easy for people to delete their data from the product. The ICO told manufacturers 'we are ready to take action if necessary to protect people from harm'.
South Wales Argus
19 hours ago
- South Wales Argus
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.'
