Smart home privacy: What data is collected, and how is it used?

Smart home privacy is a tough balancing act. While apps, devices, and cloud services all need a base level of user data to function and improve, tech firms are sometimes caught collecting more than they really need. That can pose risks if the data is stolen by hackers, shared with authoritarian governments, or sold to marketers that don’t mind harassing you. Some people simply object to anyone having a glimpse into their habits.

It’s impractical to detail the privacy policies of every company and platform in the smart home industry, but to cover a broad base we can examine what Amazon (Alexa), Apple (Siri/HomeKit), and Google (Google Home/Google Assistant) collect via compatible smart speakers and displays.