Why it matters: Consumer watchdog Which? has uncovered alarming privacy concerns with several popular smart air fryers that collect extensive personal data, including location tracking and audio recording capabilities. This discovery raises serious questions about privacy in smart home appliances.
The Investigation: Ladbible reports that three major brands—Aigostar, Xiaomi, and Cosori—were found requesting unnecessary permissions and collecting excessive data. The Xiaomi app connects to multiple advertising trackers, including Facebook and TikTok’s ad network.
- Devices request precise location data
- Apps seek permission to record audio
Privacy Concerns: According to Mirror, both Xiaomi and Aigostar air fryers transmit user data to servers in China while requesting personal information like gender and birth dates during setup. Cosori received the lowest privacy score at 41% due to issues with consent and data security.
- Data sent to overseas servers
- Limited transparency about data use
Manufacturer Response: Xiaomi claims compliance with UK data protection laws and denies selling personal data, stating the audio recording permission isn’t relevant to their air fryer. Cosori maintains GDPR compliance, while Aigostar declined to comment. It might be safer for consumers to use one of the best small toaster ovens.
