Companies that manufacture smart devices are set to face increased scrutiny from data regulators following concerns that most consumers are unaware of how they collect, use and sell their personal information.
Consumer protection groups have complained for some time that while Big Tech and social media firms have been pushed by regulators to adopt the principle of “privacy by design” for their products and services, tech manufacturers of internet-enabled products such as TVs, radios, and fridges have seemed to duck the same levels of scrutiny even though they may be violating laws such as the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) in the way they collect, store, and share people’s personal data.
