Amazon Alexa, Google Home top privacy concern chart of home devices, according to a new study

Amazon Echo

Smart home devices are becoming more prevalent these days, with more than 780 million users expected to use these devices by 2028. However, alongside the benefits of these devices, concerns about their data privacy issues always overshadowed the cost and benefits these smart devices provide, as per an online report by Firstpost.

Now, according to a new study conducted by Surfshark’s research hub, the Smart Home Privacy Checker, reveals that one in ten smart home apps or devices collects data for tracking purposes, with Amazon’s Alexa and Google Home being the most data-hungry devices.

Goda Sukackaite, privacy counsel at Surfshark, told Firstpost, “In today’s world, where convenience often trumps privacy, our research reveals a worrying trend in smart home device apps, especially from major companies like Amazon and Google. This issue goes beyond mere data collection; it intrudes into users’ private lives, potentially leading to data theft, security breaches, and the uncontrolled sharing of personal information.''

She further advises users of these smart home devices to take proactive steps such as reviewing privacy settings, minimising app permissions, and being informed about data policies governing these devices. The research also stated that twelve out of the 290 apps analysed by them have not changed their data collection practices in over a year.

Further, the study found that Amazon’s Alexa app collects 28 out of 32 possible data points, more than three times the average of other smart home devices, with Google Home collecting 22 data points. All collected data is linked to individual user profiles, including precise location, contact information, and health-related data.

As smart home devices become increasingly common in most homes globally, users are advised to embrace this convenience while also mitigating the risks to their privacy posed by these devices.