Startling findings from Which? suggest some air fryers in the UK could be invading users’ privacy by asking for permissions that could potentially allow them to listen in on conversations.
These trendy kitchen devices, which have seen a massive uptake due to their health benefits — they use hot air instead of oil — were put under the microscope for how they handle user approval, openness, data protection, and other critical privacy areas, resulting in an overall privacy rating, according to the Mirror.
Which? magazine’s editor Harry Rose weighed in with a strong statement: “Our research shows how smart tech manufacturers and the firms they work with are currently able to collect data from consumers, seemingly with reckless abandon, and this is often done with little or no transparency.”
Particular observations within the study revealed that models like the Aigostar, Xiaomi Mi Smart, and Cosori CAF-LI401S air fryers all demanded exact location details, with the app for Xiaomi even linking to trackers associated with social and tech companies based on the user’s location. Moreover, if you want to set up a profile with Aigostar’s appliance, it asks for personal information including gender and birth date, reports Lancs Live.
Additionally, it’s been uncovered that both the Aigostar and Xiaomi air fryers send user data to servers located in China, as mentioned in their privacy notices. Mail Online received a comment addressing these concerns from a spokesperson for Xiaomi saying: “The permission to record audio on Xiaomi Home app is not applicable to Xiaomi Smart Air Fryer which does not operate directly through voice commands and video chat.”
Additionally, a spokesperson for Cosori emphasised their stance on consumer privacy, stating: “We prioritise privacy, and subject to our internal compliance requirements, the smart products must comply with GDPR.”
Aigostar has not responded yet. This alert follows recent concerns expressed by experts regarding the fire hazards of air fryers.
Luke Osborne, Deputy Technical Director at Electrical Safety First, raised the alarm, saying: “Air fryers have seen a huge surge in popularity in the last year, so as more of these items are used in homes, there is a risk we could see accidents involving these appliances if people don’t ensure they are using them safely.”
