My washing machine is spying on me and I couldn’t care less

Worried about what your home gadgets think of you? Concerned at what they’ll learn? Stop your first-world fretting, writes Jonathan Margolis. I like the internet knowing about me…

As someone who’s been observing and writing on technology for 30 years, I believe there’s a heck of a lot to fear from the exponential advance in online technology (AP)

Here is a list of the gadgets in our household which are probably spying on us round the clock, reporting on our comings and goings, preferences and prejudices to fascinated – I use the word ironically – analysts from Beijing to Silicon Valley.

Three smartphones, three laptops, an iPad, a Kindle, two smartwatches, two Amazon Alexa smart speakers, one Google smart speaker, a smart doorbell, a smart door lock, a smart TV, a security webcam, a set of smart bathroom scales, a connected smoke alarm, a Hive central heating control, an internet-connected air purifier, connected hifi speakers and record deck, air pollution meter, gas and electric smart meter, a wonderful Dyson desk light, and an Epson printer.

In addition, we have an extremely clever (I’m not prepared to say “smart” yet again) AEG washing machine, a Sage coffee maker and a combined microwave/air fryer, none of which as far as I know are connected to the internet, but I still think they sometimes look at me funny.