If You Bought a Smart Air Fryer, It Is Spying on You

Why? Because they make money off you, that's why. Why is my air fryer spying on me? Which? reveals the smart devices gathering your data - and where they send it - Which? Policy and insight

Both the title to this article and the title to my post strike me as being parodies. They aren't. All I can say is that the future is stupid.

"Which?" is the UK’s version of Consumer Reports. Or that is what they would have you believe. And it seems to be the case.

Which? research has found evidence of excessive smart device surveillance - from air fryers demanding permission to listen in on conversations and sharing data with TikTok, to TVs wanting to know users’ exact locations at all times

Your TV app - so convenient for choosing shows, and controlling volume - wants to know your exact location at all times, not just when you are watching the TV.

In the air fryer category, as well as knowing customers’ precise location, all three products wanted permission to record audio on the user’s phone, for no specified reason. The Xiaomi app linked to its air fryer connected to trackers from Facebook, Pangle (the ad network of TikTok for Business), and Chinese tech giant Tencent (depending on the location of the user). The Aigostar air fryer wanted to know gender and date of birth when setting up an owner account, again for no clear reason, but this was optional. The Aigostar and Xiaomi fryers both sent people’s personal data to servers in China, although this was flagged in the privacy notice.

OK, don't buy a smart air fryer. Or washing machine. Or ...

Smart watches, smart speakers, smart TVs, ... they are all spying on you. And no, you do not need a smart air fryer. I can't even believe they exist.

Click thru for the details by major brands, together with some suggestions about limiting access to invasive apps. (Most will work without all those permissions, they just want to make even more money off you.)