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Study: Smart bedroom apps collecting sensitive data?

December 19, 2024

Our homes are our supposedly most private spaces, with the bedroom being especially personal.

Although smart bedroom devices, ranging from smart pillows to window shades and blinds, offer convenience, A study from Surkshark shows they may lead to concerns about compromising user privacy.

Key insights include:
  • Analysed smart bedroom device apps collect an average of 6 data points, with leaders like Eight Sleep and LG ThinQ collecting over twice as many, including personal tracking.

  • 20 per cent of these apps prioritise privacy and claim no data collection, including SoundAsleep Pillow and TEMPUR-Ergo apps.

  • The sleep and comfort category (smart pillows, beds) may collect sensitive data, with examples being Sleep Number and ZEREMA apps. This data can include information such as racial or ethnic background, sexual orientation, pregnancy or childbirth details, disability status, religious or philosophical beliefs, trade union membership, political opinions, genetic information, or biometric data. 

  • Some apps gather content from emails and messages or access photos, videos, and precise location, like Coway IoCare and LG ThinQ.

  • Sleep apps, such as Headspace and RISE, collect extensive data and track users, with most collecting around nine data points on average.

“It’s really concerning that some smart bedroom apps are gathering such sensitive personal information, like details about racial or ethnic background, sexual orientation, and even political opinions. Not only does this pose significant privacy risks, but it also heightens the potential for misuse and exploitation. It’s important to realise that this issue goes beyond just data collection; it touches on the intimate aspects of users’ lives and, if mismanaged, could lead to data theft, security breaches, and the unsanctioned, uncontrolled dissemination of personal information to third parties,” commented Goda Sukackaite, Privacy Counsel at Surfshark.
“If you use smart devices, it’s crucial to take proactive steps to protect your privacy. Seek out and utilize privacy settings on your devices, and actively manage app permissions, questioning any that seem excessive. Disable unnecessary microphones and cameras on smart devices, and carefully evaluate whether an app truly needs access to these features to perform its function. Stay informed about the data security policies of the smart home devices you choose, and always check what information is being collected by your smart device apps, opting for those that are less invasive of privacy,” added Sukackaite.

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