Are Smart Devices Asking for too Much Personal Information?

Consumer champion Which? allege firms are gathering far more data needed for products to function.

00:33 06 October 2023

Consumer champion Which? says owners of smart home devices are being asked far more data than what is needed for products to function. For example, a smart washing machine does not need people's date of birth to function - the same way that smart TVs do not need users' viewing habits to serve their purpose. 

Rocio Concha, director of policy and advocacy at Which?, said: “Consumers have already paid for smart products, in some cases thousands of pounds, so it is excessive that they have to continue to ‘pay’ with their personal information.”

She added "that firms should not collect more data than they need “to provide the service that’s on offer, particularly if they are going to bury this important information in lengthy terms and conditions.”

The consumer group analysed the data collection practices of popular brands behind a range of smart devices and found that each required exact location data despite this arguably not being necessary for the functionality of the product. The group also found that almost all single smart camera and doorbell brands in the market used tracking services and some even require a user's full name, email address, date of birth and gender.