Almost any household device that can be connected to the internet has the potential to become smart, from your fridge that can be controlled remotely to your home security cameras and your TV. It’s a convenient way to control your appliances and stream media, but it comes with some serious privacy concerns. In this episode of the Wirecutter podcast Jon Chase, our supervising editor for smart-home coverage, interviews Sam Floreani, the head of policy at Digital Rights Watch, to find out what you need to know about these devices and how they collect your data.
In the literature authors allocate key features to smart devices which can be grouped in the following terms: Autonomy, Device connectivity and Context-awareness. User interaction and Mobility-portability are also mentioned as key features but we choose to ignore them for the purpose of this article since the paradigm of the IoT suggests that even objects with low mobility can be classified as smart.
Smart home devices aren’t just monitoring your activities at home — they’re also collecting info about you outside the house. These gadgets, including the Amazon Echo and Google Home speakers, can track your movements and listen to your conversations. This information is often sold to data brokers, which can use it to build a profile about you.
While the convenience of a connected kitchen may be worth the risk, it’s important to consider the privacy implications before you buy one. Read the privacy statements and service agreements (if there are any) carefully, and consider contacting the manufacturer directly with questions.