Opinion: Air fryer adds some extra fun to Happy Holidays
Your air fryer, and possibly any other app-connected device in your life, collects a ton of personal information. And the “watchdogs” of the US and UK are taking note, trying to prevent the flow and sale of all that data.
## Privacy Concerns with Air Fryers
Imagine this: you gather with your family for Christmas and everyone opens their gifts. Your partner gave you the air fryer you’ve been wanting, and you’re excited to see that you can prepare potatoes with ease. But then your partner warns you: “It’s the best there is, but make sure not to speak out loud when you use it.”
You are confused by their words and ask why: “Well. It’s an air fryer and you need an app to use it, and the app records everything your phone hears.”
That’s the sad reality of air fryers, and hundreds of other consumer products these days. We have more connected devices than ever before, and they all have apps, collecting data that goes into data centers consuming electricity. A report from the UK consumer advocacy group Which? revealed some of the worst companions in your life.
## Invasion of Privacy in Smart Devices
Which? also studied smartwatches, smart TVs, watches, and a variety of devices that will end up under Christmas trees this year. There were similar results in all of them. Every electronic device you own is spying on you, especially if connected to an app on your phone.
Most of us who use these things know it. We have accepted that it is part of the modern world. And of course there are ways to circumvent it, like using a VPN, or a similar device, that reroutes data collection. We can also avoid using apps. The best option is not to use smart devices. But it shouldn’t be like this. It shouldn’t happen that every technological device is a deal with the devil in which we allow a tech company to read our contact list so we can use the remote control of an oven, for example. Many people are angry about this issue and are complaining to their governments. Consumer advocacy groups in the US and UK are paying attention to them.
