UK Researchers Reveal That Our Air Fryers Are Spying on Us and Sending The Information to China

Tech Radar - The best air fryers might be genuinely life-changing pieces of kit, but some hide a snooping dark side that could see them invade your privacy in several alarming ways, according to a new report.

The UK-based consumer body Which? has released a report based on its privacy findings across a range of products, including air fryers, smartwatches, smart TVs and smart speakers. And it makes for worrying reading if you're concerned about the creeping tentacles of tech companies.

While privacy and security concerns around smart TVs are nothing new, the appetite of some air fryers for our personal data is more of a surprise. Which? found that the three fryers it tested all wanted to "record audio on the user's phone, for no specified reason".

The Aigostar and Xiaomi fryers it tested "both sent people’s personal data to servers in China", it said. That action was highlighted in a privacy notice, but that's likely something that many will miss.

By now, I feel as if we've all come to accept that each of our individual cell phones have a room full of men in Chongqing, China tapped into them, and they're taking furious notes on every word that comes out of our mouths so that they know exactly which brand of knockoff sunglasses we are 3% more likely to buy via targeted ad. It's been happening for years. I've come to terms with it. 

Then we moved on to appliances. One day, however many years ago, we hopped on the World Wide Web and learned that 'smart refrigerators' had become a thing. That we now have the ability to simultaneously play Candy Crush, FaceTime our relatives, and keep a close eye on our pot roast all from the comfort of our refrigerators. As long as we're fine with yet another room of Chinese men tracking our fridge stocking habits. 

But now, according to Britain, it seems as if we're no longer being warned up front about which of our appliances are compromised. We now have to assume that every modern appliance we purchase is fully equipped for espionage. At this point, I have no reason to believe that my electronic toothbrush isn't capable of reporting my dental hygiene habits directly to my dentist. And next time I show up for a routine teeth cleaning, he'll present me with a horrifying 12-slide PowerPoint on the future of my teeth, detailing how if I don't pay for a brand new revolutionary $6,500 mouth rejuvenation right now this very fucking instant, my entire jaw will fall off within the next 5 years. 

I very much do not need my air fryer spying on me. I am fully comfortable with the quality of air fryers on the market as is. I do not care to sacrifice my privacy for the sake of microscopically crispier crust on my leftover pizza. The last thing I need in my life is for my air fryer cam to record me in a moment of weakness as I sing a remix of Pink Pony Club tailored to my dogs. Can't have that video out there. Even if they promise me it won't leave the room in China my particular air fryer is assigned to. 

Am I really supposed to trust that they won't do anything with the information they gather beyond "conduct product research"? That if I go to reheat my McDonald's and make an off-the-cuff comment about how their fries aren't as good as they used to be, that the message won't be relayed to Ronald McDonald himself, and an army of Grimaces won't show up at my front door to intimidate me? 

It's time we relax with the "product research". How much additional research do you really need to sell an air fryer? We've already conceded that our phones are compromised. It's not like I'm going to go back to using an alarm clock, or paper directions, or not checking Reddit once every hour to see which one of my co-workers is being dragged online the hardest at any given moment. I've admitted defeat when it comes my phone. But air fryers is a bridge too far. There's not need for it. They're just gloating at this point. They're high stepping to the end zone up 50 in the 4th quarter just to rub it in our faces how much they really own our every thoughts. 

Will I do anything about it? Of course not. I will continue buying whatever the latest appliance is every time my old one breaks. I will continue divulging private information in the face of my Chinese spy blender. But I'm NOT happy about it. Not one bit.