Privacy risks: Federal Network Agency warns against purchasing smart products
Image: Mohamed Hassan | Picture Image | CC0 1.0
The Federal Network Agency warns against smart products equipped with cameras or microphones that may violate privacy. Secret recordings are prohibited. Common products such as surveillance cameras and spy devices capable of recording unnoticed images and sounds are affected.
From surveillance cameras to process machines to collars with hidden microphones
According to the Federal Network Agency’s announcement, everyday smart products are banned in Germany if they can record video or audio content unnoticed and are able to transmit it wirelessly to third-party devices via WLAN or Bluetooth . “Smart toys, smart robot vacuum cleaners or smart glasses can make our lives easier, but the resulting risks to privacy should not be underestimated,” says Klaus Müller, President of the Federal Network Agency . People should always be clear when admitted. This is especially true in children’s rooms.
Many smart devices now come with cameras or microphones. However, the specifications still apply. According to the Federal Network Agency, classic surveillance cameras in front of the front door, which are part of a smart doorbell system, are only permitted if they are clearly visible and do not allow secret recordings.
Buyers should also be careful with other product classes such as automatic feeders and pet treats equipped with cameras or robot vacuums with image or sound recording functions. In such cases, the equipment must be identified. “It is crucial that the recording situation is clearly recognizable to the recorded person,” the Federal Network Agency said in the statement.
Spy devices are completely prohibited
In addition, the Federal Network Agency has once again discovered various spying devices on the market. The list includes necklaces with a hidden microphone, a flower basket with a spy camera, and a video-enabled razor. The Federal Network Agency collects the details on an overview page.
When such illegal products have been discussed in recent months, their distribution has regularly been through Chinese online marketplaces such as Temu and Shein. They are criticized for not respecting European standards, particularly in terms of consumer protection. Due to potential violations of the Digital Services Act (DSA), the European Commission initiated formal proceedings in October.
Among other things, the investigation focuses on what Temu is doing to limit the sale of non-compliant products in the EU. Other aspects of the survey concern how Temu recommends content and products to users, as well as design. Through gamification elements, the platform has implemented a reward system that can be addictive. We want to look at these risks.
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