Startling new research shows some air fryers could be spying on their users. According to experts at Which?, several air fryers sold in the UK required permissions that allow them to eavesdrop on conversations.

However, air fryers continue to be a sought-after item due to their healthier cooking method using hot air instead of oil, with these gadgets topping many early Christmas wish lists. Which? researched and rated the privacy aspects of air fryers across consent, transparency, data security, data minimisation, trackers, and ability for data deletion, subsequently assigning an overall privacy score to each product.

Which? magazine editor Harry Rose highlighted the findings: “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.”

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The analysis found all three products tested – the Aigostar, Xiaomi Mi Smart, and Cosori CAF-LI401S – pinpointed their customers’ location data and requested audio recording permissions on the user’s phone. The Xiaomi app linked to its air fryer was connected to Facebook, Pangle, and Tencent trackers, varying based on user location; meanwhile, the Aigostar air fryer requested the user’s gender and date of birth when creating an account, reports The Mirror.

Separately, it was discovered that the Aigostar and Xiaomi air fryers transmitted personal data to servers located in China, although this was mentioned in the privacy notice. A Xiaomi spokesperson responded to Mail Online, stating: “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.”

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A Cosori spokesperson added that the company prioritises privacy and ensures its smart products comply with GDPR regulations.

The Mirror has contacted Aigostar for comment. In a separate incident, Rebecca Sim’s one year old Tower air fryer caught fire.

The retired school teacher from Greater Manchester said: “I was really shocked. I noticed the flickering and a plastic smell, so I knocked the switch off with a wooden spoon, unplugged it and smothered it with a damp tea towel.”