Image courtesy of Dan LeFebvre on Unsplash
Unlike all the other first world nations, the USA is without a single national authority to protect consumer’s online data. The UK, Russia, France, Israel, Mexico, China, Ireland, Argentina, and the list goes on… all have national departments to independently regulate data protection and information rights. Not the USA.
In the USA, the Federal Trade Commission, aka the FTC, supports investigations as a database of all claims and reports of fraud. This means that US citizens must be on guard and actively protect their own data.
Identity theft is a real menace and it affects nearly 24 million people in the US every year. Your personal data and conversations might even be invaded by any or all of your smart appliances.
There are some US states with enforcement authority over unfair, deceptive and illegal business practices, which can include security measures and violations of consumer privacy rights. Nineteen states will protect their citizens’ data rights through the Attorney General’s Office: California, Delaware, Iowa, Colorado, Florida, Montana, New Jersey, Utah, Texas, Connecticut, Virginia, Indiana, Nebraska, Minnesota, Rhode Island, Tennessee, Minnesota, Maryland and Oregon.
The best way to address data privacy concerns in the US about smart appliances already in use or appliances one is planning to buy is to check for a physical switch to use to stop the collection of voice data. If the concern is about identity theft, the FTC says to first contact the company where the fraud occurred.
This sounds like a lot of work, so be proactive and know if the smart appliances in your life will be able to spy on and surveil you. Take a second look at that air fryer!
