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.
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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.
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20 per cent of these apps prioritise privacy and claim no data collection, including SoundAsleep Pillow and TEMPUR-Ergo apps.
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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.
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Some apps gather content from emails and messages or access photos, videos, and precise location, like Coway IoCare and LG ThinQ.
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Sleep apps, such as Headspace and RISE, collect extensive data and track users, with most collecting around nine data points on average.