The United States, Germany, and South Korea have each conducted quality inspections on low-cost products sold by Chinese e-commerce platforms like SHEIN and Temu, discovering that many items are of substandard quality. (Internet screenshot)
[People News] The UK consumer protection organization "Which?" recently published an investigative report revealing that some Chinese brands of smart air fryers may collect users' sensitive information and upload it to servers in China, including platforms such as TikTok. This report has sparked widespread concern in the international community, especially as data privacy issues are increasingly being emphasized.
According to reports from multiple British media outlets, "Which?" stated in its investigation that Chinese smart appliances, such as Aigostar and Xiaomi air fryers, require user permissions during app installation, including location tracking and call recording. The investigation found that these permission requests lacked clear explanations, and the collected data might be uploaded to third-party servers. "Which?" indicated that this data collection exceeds the necessary functionality of the products and constitutes "excessive surveillance." Xiaomi's smart home management app was also found to be connected to trackers from advertising platforms like Facebook and TikTok, and in some areas, it may even be linked to Tencent's tracker.
Jiangsu smartphone user Mr. Tian expressed his concerns to Radio Free Asia on Friday (the 8th), stating that such actions by smart devices infringe on personal privacy: "Xiaomi and Huawei phones have background monitoring. When you use the app or make calls, you are monitored. This infringes on customers' privacy."
Monitoring of Users by Smart Home Appliances Becoming Routine
Mr. Chen, a home appliance salesman from Guangdong, disclosed issues surrounding the privacy of Chinese smart home appliances, suggesting that this trend might be intended to gather information from abroad. He told Radio Free Asia, "Chinese appliances now come equipped with monitoring systems for all internet-connected devices. I believe this is a way to collect foreign intelligence."
Lu Yong, a Chinese mobile phone user, mentioned to Radio Free Asia that similar privacy violations are common in China and have even become normalized: "For example, if we casually mention something, like saying I have a headache today, Pinduoduo (an app) will push products related to headaches. Whatever you say, your phone detects it and sends you recommendations. This is background monitoring."
Xiaomi responded by stating that user privacy is one of its core values, all data complies with UK data protection laws, and the smart air fryer does not have a recording function. Xiaomi also indicated that Tencent services are only used in China.
British media such as The Guardian and the Daily Mail reported this week that Chinese-made smart home products often lack transparency in their privacy permissions, potentially collecting and sharing users' personal information without their knowledge. This report has drawn the attention of the UK government, with the Information Commissioner's Office (ICO) planning to introduce new data protection regulations in the spring of 2025. These regulations will require all smart device manufacturers to clearly disclose the purpose of user data collection, and the rules will also apply to overseas companies.
UK to Introduce Restrictive Measures in 2025
In response to security concerns, several countries, including the United States and South Korea, have already imposed restrictions on surveillance equipment made in China. For instance, South Korea experienced privacy breaches due to the use of Chinese-made cameras that leaked footage from private homes, and the US government has begun removing or replacing such equipment in government facilities to reduce security risks.
IT industry expert Miao Li pointed out that the permission requirements of Android applications are becoming increasingly complex, and data collection is common in smart home applications. He told Radio Free Asia that although Android offers permission management, its open-source nature makes it difficult to monitor whether permissions are bypassed: "Many smart home apps collect big data. Android systems above version 10 require authorization for app use, like 'just this once' or 'always allow when running.' While Android has authorization options, it is not a closed system, and whether permissions can be bypassed and how that is done is unclear."
The upcoming UK privacy regulations mean that privacy issues related to smart products will face stricter scrutiny in the future.
(Reprinted from Radio Free Asia)
News magazine bootstrap themes!
I like this themes, fast loading and look profesional
Thank you Carlos!
You're welcome!
Please support me with give positive rating!
Yes Sure!