Manufacturers of smart devices should respect our privacy, ICO says

Smart device manufacturers should respect their users' privacy and not collect excessive amounts of information.

“From smart speakers and fitness trackers to WiFi fridges and interconnected air fryers, smart products have integrated seamlessly into people’s homes and everyday lives,” the Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO) says in a blog post.

What a lot of users don’t realize is that these devices collect and process extensive amounts of personal information. For example, they know where we live, who we live with, what music we like, what medication we are taking, and so on.

Stephen Almond, Executive Director for Regulatory Risk at the ICO, says that smart devices are designed to make our lives easier, but this doesn’t mean they should collect excessive personal information.

“In our increasingly connected world, we shouldn’t have to choose between enjoying the benefits of smart products and our own privacy. We all rightly have a greater expectation of privacy in our own homes, so we must be able to trust that smart products are respecting our privacy, using our personal information responsibly, and only in ways we would expect,” he says.

To inform developers and manufacturers of smart devices and Internet of Things (IoT) products how they should handle personal information, the British privacy regulator has published its first guidance.

The document covers issues such as asking for informed consent, providing transparent privacy information, data retention, and informing users about their data rights.

Consumers have a responsibility as well, Almond says. For example, they have to do research before they buy a smart device or IoT product. Also, users shouldn’t blindly give all sorts of permissions to smart products, and they should protect their devices by setting up a unique and strong password.

Lastly, consumers should keep up with security updates and remove their data when they no longer use their smart devices.