Wednesday, May 07, 2025

Smart home devices used to monitor domestic workers raise safety concerns

King's College London

The growing use of smart home devices is undermining the privacy and safety of domestic workers.

New research from King’s College London reveals how surveillance technologies reinforce a sense of constant monitoring and control by domestic workers’ employers, increasing their vulnerability and impacting their mental wellbeing.

Smart home technologies are on the rise around the world, and especially in China, which has seen a rapid increase in the use of devices such as smart cameras in the home, for security reasons or to check in on elderly relatives, and baby monitors for overseeing children and childcare providers.

These devices threaten the privacy of employees such as cleaners, nannies or carers, argue the researchers.

Based on in-depth interviews with 26 domestic workers and five recruitment agencies for domestic workers in China, this first-of-its-kind study points out some concerning practices by employers in the use of these devices to monitor the performance of their workers within the context of multi-user smart homes. It also highlights how the constant feeling of being watched impacts the workers themselves.

Lead author Dr Ruba Abu-Salma, Assistant Professor of Computer Science at King’s College London, said: “This complete lack of freedom and right to self-determination felt by many of the participants of the study amounts in our view to mental abuse. The constant monitoring undermines trust and affects workplace interactions.

“The devices also exacerbate already dire power imbalances between workers and their employers, undermining their rights and increasing their vulnerability.”

During the research interviews, workers commented on the feeling of their movements constantly being monitored as they move around the house, and the unease they feel knowing the camera is always looking at them.

Some revealed they were not made aware of cameras in the home, with one person even discovering a device hidden in a bookshelf, while another worker said they had to deal with a smart robot installed with a camera that followed them around the room.

For live-in domestic workers, smart devices could be even more invasive, with cameras installed in every room, including intimate spaces like their bedroom, making them feel uneasy about undressing and relaxing in their own space.

And while many of the participants recognised the need for safety, especially when caring for babies, the absence of clear communication from employers about the purpose of monitoring sparked distrust and discomfort.

The research was conducted by Dr Ruba Abu-Salma, Professor Jose Such, and PhD researcher Shijing He from the Department of Informatics at King’s College London, alongside researchers from the University of St Andrews and the China Academy of Art, Hangzhou.

Shijing He said: “Smart home technologies are getting smarter all the time – including through the use of AI. Devices can rotate and track movements around the room, meaning there is nowhere to hide. AI functions can make inferences about what is going on in the room and alert the employer where perceived risks are posed.”

Professor Jose Such, Professor of Computer Science at King’s College London, said: “It is unclear the extent to which employers are breaching the law on privacy in China. Whilst China has a law similar to GDPR, the data protection legislation protecting UK and EU citizens, China’s Personal Information Protection Law (PIPL) prioritises national security rather than individual rights, and legal loopholes mean it doesn’t necessarily cover the practices of employers in their own homes.”

While the study only focused on China, the researchers believe this issue is more widespread and could also be affecting migrant domestic workers around the world.

The researchers have provided recommendations to domestic worker agencies and policymakers in China to address the privacy and security challenges facing migrant domestic workers in ‘smart homes’.

Dr Ruba Abu-Salma added: “We found that the lack of legal protections and the unclear regulatory landscape in China exacerbated the vulnerable position of domestic workers. The absence of regulations and defined laws governing the domestic service industry highlights the urgent need for updates to privacy laws and regulations to better protect workers’ rights.”

Other recommendations include agencies integrating privacy education into training programmes for workers to understand their rights, as well as establishing transparent communication and contractual agreements regarding surveillance practices.

DOI

10.1145/3706598.3713616

Method of Research

Observational study

Subject of Research

People

Article Title

Exploring the Privacy and Security Challenges Faced by Migrant Domestic Workers in Chinese Smart Homes

LA REVUE GAUCHE - Left Comment: Search results for INDENTURED SERVITUDE

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One-week breast cancer radiotherapy proven as safe and effective as standard three-week treatment in 4,000-patient study over 10 years

European Society for Radiotherapy and Oncology (ESTRO)

Brussels, Belgium – 7 mai 2025: Presented at ESTRO 2025, which gathered a record attendance of 7,908 participants this week in Vienna, Austria, a 10-year study, involving over 4,000 UK patients, confirms that a one-week course of post-surgery radiotherapy is just as safe and effective as the traditional three-week regimen for early-stage breast cancer patients. These long-term results from the FAST-Forward trial, could further reduce the burden on breast cancer patients worldwide, and expand access to life-saving radiotherapy.

The phase III randomised trial, which was sponsored by The Institute of Cancer Research, London and funded by a grant from UK National Institute of Health Research (NIHR), followed up patients for ten years and showed that a shorter, five-day radiotherapy schedule provides a similar level of cancer control as the standard 3-week treatment, without additional long-term side effects. This builds on previous five-year results that have already led to a shift in clinical practice.

Why This Matters

Breast cancer is one of the most common cancers globally, and radiotherapy plays a critical role in reducing the risk of recurrence after surgery. A shorter treatment course offers major benefits:
✅ More convenient for patients, reducing hospital visits
✅ Reduces pressure on radiotherapy services, making treatment more accessible
✅ Same safety and effectiveness as the longer regimen

“This 10-year analysis provides definitive long-term evidence that one-week radiotherapy to the breast is a safe, effective, and more practical option for breast cancer patients,” said Professor Murray Brunt, lead investigator of the study.

Professor Judith Bliss, Professor of Clinical Trials at The Institute of Cancer Research, London, who co-led the trial, said:

"The FAST-Forward trial revolutionised cancer treatment by reducing the standard radiotherapy from three weeks to just one week, without compromising effectiveness.

“This approach has significantly improved patient experience and healthcare practices, both during and after the Covid-19 pandemic, by minimising hospital visits.

“The streamlined schedule has made radiotherapy more accessible to more women, particularly those who are less able to attend hospital and those from lower-income countries.”

Professor Matthias Guckenberger, President of ESTRO, Chairman of the Department of Radiation Oncology and full Professor at the University Hospital Zurich and University of Zurich, emphasised the broader significance of this research:

"Radiotherapy is a cornerstone of modern cancer treatment, and studies like FAST-Forward demonstrate how we can optimise its delivery to benefit more patients.

“By reducing treatment time without compromising effectiveness, we are not only improving patient experience but also making better use of radiotherapy resources and healthcare systems worldwide.”

“These findings reinforce the critical role of radiotherapy in the fight against cancer."

About the FAST-Forward Trial

FAST-Forward is a major international clinical trial investigating the best way to deliver radiotherapy for early breast cancer. It compared the standard three-week schedule (40Gy in 15 treatments) with a shorter, one-week schedule (27Gy or 26Gy in five treatments). The FAST-Forward trial is part of a long-term programme of research into improving breast cancer radiotherapy at The Institute of Cancer Research (ICR).

The final 10-year results were presented at ESTRO 2025, marking a significant milestone in breast cancer treatment and reinforcing the growing shift toward more efficient radiotherapy approaches.

Abstract n° E25-5025: “Hypofractionated breast radiotherapy for 1 week vs 3 weeks: 10-year efficacy and late normal tissue effects in the FAST-Forward randomised trial”, presented on 3 May at 10.30 hrs (CEST), Plenary Hall.

About ESTRO 2025

ESTRO 2025 brought together around 8,000 participants from over 80 countries, showcasing the latest research in clinical radiation oncology, radiobiology, medical physics, technology, and brachytherapy. Leading doctors and scientists from around the world presented groundbreaking findings.

ESTRO 2025 was the annual congress of the European Society for Radiotherapy and Oncology (ESTRO), an organisation dedicated to advancing cancer treatment through radiotherapy and multimodal approaches.

ESTRO promotes education, science, and research and advocates for universal access to radiotherapy. With nearly 10,000 members worldwide, it supports radiation oncology professionals and the broader oncology community in their daily practice.

Journal

Radiotherapy and Oncology

Method of Research

Randomized controlled/clinical trial

Subject of Research

People

Article Title

Hypofractionated breast radiotherapy for 1 week vs 3 weeks: 10-year efficacy and late normal tissue effects in the FAST-Forward randomised trial

Article Publication Date

6-May-2025

Smart spongy device captures water from thin air

RMIT University

Spongy water harvester researcher — image:
Dr Derek Hao, from RMIT University, holds the team’s spongy wood-based composite material that can absorb water from the atmosphere.
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Credit: Shu Shu Zheng, RMIT University

Engineers from Australia and China have invented a sponge-like device that captures water from thin air and then releases it in a cup using the sun’s energy, even in low humidity where other technologies such as fog harvesting and radiative cooling have struggled.

The water-from-air device remained effective across a broad range of humidity levels (30 – 90%) and temperatures (5 – 55 degrees Celsius).

Senior researcher Dr Derek Hao, from RMIT University in Melbourne, said the invention relied on refined balsa wood’s naturally spongy structure, modified to absorb water from the atmosphere and release it on demand.

The wood-based composite developed by the team for their research fit snuggly into a cup with a dome lid and anti-pollution tray, a cooling mechanism and an activation system powered by the sun.

“Billions of people around the world lack access to drinkable water, and millions die from water-borne diseases every year,” said Hao, a materials scientist and environmental engineer in RMIT’s School of Science.

Hao was corresponding author on the study, which was done in collaboration with five Chinese research institutions, led by Dr Junfeng Hou from Zhejiang A&F University.

“Our team has invented a device comprising wood’s spongy scaffolding, lithium chloride, iron oxide nanoparticles, a carbon nanotube layer and other specialised features,” Hao said.

The team used artificial intelligence for accurate prediction and optimisation of the device's water harvesting and discharging performance under varying environmental conditions.

Watershed moment

The spongy material, which is an early-stage lab prototype, absorbs moisture from the atmosphere when the cup’s lid is open. When the lid is closed under sunlight, water is released into the cup.

Under laboratory conditions, the water-from-air device absorbed about 2 milliliters of water per gram of material at 90% relative humidity and released nearly all the water within 10 hours under sun exposure – higher than most other known methods and at less cost. With nine sponge cubes, each weighing 0.8 grams, 15 milliliters of water can be absorbed and released into the cup.

“In outdoor tests, our device captured 2.5 milliliters of water per gram overnight and released most of it during the day, achieving a daily water collection efficiency of 94%,” Hou said.

“At 30% humidity, our device absorbed water at about 0.6 milliliters per gram.

“These results highlight its potential use in off-grid, solar-driven water harvesting systems.”

Benefits of the nature-inspired design

Hao said the use of natural wood as a matrix not only reduced costs but also provided structural integrity and enhanced water transport through its porous architecture.

“These features enable the material to be manufactured in large quantities and deployed in real-world applications such as water collection in remote or arid regions,” he said.

“The device retained its flexibility and water-absorbing function even after being stored at −20 degrees Celsius for 20 days, demonstrating excellent freeze resistance.

“Its moisture absorption–release performance was stable across 10 consecutive cycles, with less than 12% decline in efficiency.”

Potential applications and scalability

Hao said the device would be suited to emergency scenarios, such as in the wake of natural disasters where water supplies have been compromised, if the team can scale-up and optimise the modular innovation.

“The current demonstration unit size is 15 cubic millimeters. It would be very easy to prepare a larger unit, or we can use the units to form an array,” Hao said.

“Its ability to harvest potable water from the atmosphere using only sunlight makes it invaluable in disaster-stricken areas where traditional water sources are compromised. The system's portability and reliance on renewable energy further enhance its applicability in such contexts.”

Hao said the material was designed with scalability and affordability in mind.

“The main component, balsa wood, is widely available, biodegradable and cheap, and the manufacturing process is not complex, which could enable mass production.

“The demonstrated stable performance over multiple cycles and in various environmental conditions indicates longevity and cost-effectiveness.”

Hao said the team was in discussion with prospective industry partners on pilot-scale production and field deployment, integration into modular water-from-air harvesting systems.

“Solar panels combined with thermal energy storage could enable round-the-clock operation, particularly in areas with intermittent sunlight,” he said.

Developing automated control systems using Internet of Things sensors to monitor relative humidity, temperature and solar intensity could further optimise water harvesting cycles, Hao said.

“Building on the artificially intelligent design used in the study, more advanced design platforms could be developed to screen new material combinations and predict long-term water absorption and release performance,” he said.

‘Development and characterisation of novel wood-based composite materials for solar-powered atmospheric water harvesting: a machine intelligence supported approach’ is published in the Journal of Cleaner Production (DOI: 10.1016/j.jclepro.2025.145061).

MULTIMEDIA

Images and video of the innovation can be downloaded here: https://spaces.hightail.com/space/IvV4Uzcs1h

The invention with a sponge-like material, developed by researchers in Australia and China, absorbs water from the atmosphere and then releases it in a cup using the sun’s energy.

Credit

Shu Shu Zheng, RMIT University

Journal

Journal of Cleaner Production

DOI

10.1016/j.jclepro.2025.145061

Method of Research

Observational study

Subject of Research

Not applicable

Article Title

Development and characterisation of novel wood-based composite materials for solar-powered atmospheric water harvesting: a machine intelligence supported approach

New study shows that birds form bonds that look a lot like friendship

Columbia University

image:
A superb starling
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Credit: Dustin Rubenstein

The fact that humans who are not related by blood help each other repeatedly over time is demonstrably true—think of the ongoing mutual support that sustains your longest-running friendships.

But the idea that such interactions occur in the animal kingdom has been difficult to prove.

A new study of African starlings led by Alexis Earl, a former PhD student in the lab of Professor Dustin Rubenstein, and colleagues, draws on data gathered over 20 years and proves exactly that: The starlings demonstrate “reciprocity,” helping each other with the expectation that the favor will eventually be returned.

“Starling societies are not just simple families, they’re much more complex, containing a mixture of related and unrelated individuals that live together, much in the way that humans do,” Rubenstein said.

The fact that animals help their direct blood relatives, or kin, with the goal of boosting their genetic fitness and prolonging their genes, has long been known in the scientific community. Starlings do preferentially help their relatives, but many birds also help non-relatives. Earl and colleagues discovered that this non-relative helping occurs through the formation of these reciprocal helping relationships, which sometimes take place over many years.

Proving that this type of reciprocal behavior extends to animals other than direct relatives is difficult, though, since it requires large amounts of data gathered over long stretches of time. The new paper, published this week in the journal Nature, draws on 20 years of research that Rubenstein and his colleagues have conducted on African starlings living in the harsh climate of east African savannahs. From 2002 to 2021, the researchers studied thousands of interactions between hundreds of the birds, and collected DNA from individuals in the population to examine genetic relationships. By combining 40 breeding seasons’ worth of behavioral and genetic data, the team could ask questions like: Did the birds preferentially help relatives? Did they help non-relatives even when relatives were available? And did they reciprocate help with specific individuals over the years?

Ultimately, the researchers found that helpers preferentially aided relatives, but also frequently and consistently helped specific non-relative birds, even when relatives were available to help. “Many of these birds are essentially forming friendships over time,” Rubenstein said. “Our next step is to explore how these relationships form, how long they last, why some relationships stay robust, while others fall apart.”

The data builds on decades of research collected by Rubenstein and his colleagues and students on how and why animals socialize. They have examined animal societies not just in birds, but also in a diversity of species around the globe, including snapping shrimp throughout the Caribbean, wasps in Africa, beetles in Asia, and mice and lizards in Australia.

“I think this kind of reciprocal helping behavior is likely going on in a lot of animal societies, and people just haven’t studied them long enough to be able to detect it,” Rubenstein said.

Journal

Nature

DOI

10.1038/s41586-025-08958-4

Article Publication Date

7-May-2025