Everyday devices such as smart speakers, doorbell cameras, TVs and even washing machines have been revealed to be spying on families.
Research shows that basic household amenities capture and share private information with major tech companies like Google, as well as Amazon, Facebook, and TikTok.
It is believed that the companies and their business partners use the information to target people with advertisements on smartphones and other devices.
The findings of Which? found companies seem to collect much more data than is necessary for the product to function.
Google Nest smart home products, including security cameras, smart speakers, doorbell cameras and heating control systems, collect a huge amount of location data about people who connect via smartphones using the Android operating system.
Research shows standard household amenities capture and share private information with major tech companies like Google, as well as Amazon, Facebook and TikTok (file image)
In contrast, these same Nest products collect much less information when users connect to them through Apple’s iPhones.
Which? said: ‘It is not known why this additional data is being collected. However, Google’s primary activity is advertising and marketing, while Apple is currently focusing on hardware sales.’
Experts looked at what information the devices need to create an account, what data permissions their apps request, and what activity marketing companies track on people’s products.
Smart speakers are only allowed to listen when you want them to, but this is not always the extent of the data collection.
For example, smart speakers from Bose share user data with Meta, the parent company of Facebook.
The Ezviz smart cameras and doorbells, sold by major retailers including Argos, had by far the most active tracking software.
This included sharing information with TikTok’s business marketing division, as well as Pangle, a leading video advertising platform, Huawei, Google and Meta.
Every brand of smart camera and doorbell used tracking services from Google, while Blink and Ring also connected to parent company Amazon.
It is believed that the companies and their business partners use the information to target people with advertisements on smartphones and other devices (File image)
Everyday devices such as smart speakers, doorbell cameras, TVs and even washing machines have been revealed to be spying on families
Which? said the spying and tracking features are automatically activated by default. Consumers can opt out, but this requires a change of settings and may cause certain parts of the device or app to stop working.
Most smart TV menus are flooded with advertisements, some of which are personalized based on user data. While tracking is optional, which one? found that LG, Samsung and Sony are bundling this into an ‘accept all’ button.
LG wanted the most data of all brands of washing machines, including the customer’s name, date of birth, email address, telephone book, exact location and telephone number.
Hoover wanted users’ contacts and phone numbers on Android devices. With Miele, exact location tracking is enabled by default and required to use the app.
A Which? The survey found that the data people were most concerned about being shared was their contacts and background location. This was followed by photos, phone number and exact location.
Under the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR), companies must be transparent about the data they collect and how it is processed. The data collected must also be relevant and limited to what is necessary for the processing to take place.
However, the reasons for taking information are often too broad for consumers to understand, with companies claiming ‘legitimate interests’.
Which? policy director Rocio Concha said: ‘Companies should not collect more data than they need to deliver the service being offered, especially if they are going to bury this important information in long-term terms.
“The Information Commissioner’s Office should consider updating the guidelines to better protect consumers against accidentally giving up large parts of their own details without realizing it.”
Manufacturers argued that they are transparent with customers about how their data is used. They argued that the data collected is used to improve devices and services.
Google said, “Google fully complies with applicable privacy laws and provides transparency to our users about the data we collect and how we use it.”
Amazon said, “We design our products to protect our customers’ privacy and security and to put our customers in control of their experience.
We never sell their personal information and we continue to work to keep their information secure. We use data responsibly to deliver what our customers expect: products they love and are always getting better.” Other companies contacted by Which? has not responded.