A recent investigation has ignited controversy by uncovering that apps linked to Chinese air fryers have secretly recorded users’ private conversations and shared them online.
According to several news outlets, including The Guardian, on Wednesday, British consumer organization Which? discovered that air fryer apps connected to Chinese companies Aigostar and Xiaomi sent collected user data to servers owned by Chinese companies such as TikTok.
The investigation revealed these apps demanded permission to access users’ conversations upon registration, as well as access to location tracking and recording phone calls. While users were informed that their data might be shared with third parties, there was no clear explanation of the purpose behind this data collection.
Xiaomi contested the findings, claiming the investigation was inaccurate. The company stated that the voice recording permission in their Xiaomi Home app does not apply to air fryer usage. Aigostar, however, has not yet provided an official statement.
Which? stressed, “Our research shows how smart tech manufacturers and the firms they work with are currently able to collect data from consumers, seemingly with reckless abandon, and this is often done with little or no transparency.” They urged, “The ICO has confirmed a code is being introduced in Spring 2025 – this must be backed by effective enforcement, including against companies that operate abroad.”
This incident is part of a broader pattern of security vulnerabilities in Chinese-made products. In a previous case, Chinese-made IP cameras connected to the internet leaked private footage from private homes in South Korea, which was shared through platforms like Telegram.
