Air fryer warning issued for anyone who uses three popular models - LancsLive

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Startling research from Which? has claimed that some air fryers in the UK may be intruding on users' privacy by requesting permission to eavesdrop on conversations. The kitchen appliances have surged in popularity for using hot air instead of oil, offering a healthier option.

Which?'s study assessed air fryers on consent, transparency, data security, and other key privacy factors, assigning an overall privacy score, reports the Mirror.

Which? magazine editor Harry Rose commented: "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."

Specific findings indicated the Aigostar, Xiaomi Mi Smart, and Cosori CAF-LI401S air fryers all required precise location knowledge, with the Xiaomi app even connecting to trackers from social and tech companies depending on user location. Furthermore, setting up an account with Aigostar's air fryer required personal details such as gender and date of birth.

Meanwhile, the Aigostar and Xiaomi air fryers have been found to transmit personal data to servers based in China — a detail that has been disclosed in their privacy notices. Responding to these claims, a Xiaomi spokesperson informed Mail Online: "The permission to record audio on Xiaomi Home app is not applicable to Xiaomi Smart Air Fryer which does not operate directly through voice commands and video chat."

In addition, a Cosori representative asserted: "We prioritise privacy, and subject to our internal compliance requirements, the smart products must comply with GDPR."

Aigostar has been approached for comment. It comes after experts warned air fryer users about the potential fire risks of the appliances.

Luke Osborne, Deputy Technical Director at Electrical Safety First said: “Air fryers have seen a huge surge in popularity in the last year, so as more of these items are used in homes, there is a risk we could see accidents involving these appliances if people don’t ensure they are using them safely.”