Pronto faces scrutiny over data use as in-home camera pilot raises privacy concerns
Pronto faces scrutiny over data use as in-home camera pilot raises privacy concerns
Publish Date: 2026-05-25 07:23:00
Source Domain: www.storyboard18.com
Pronto, a fast-scaling home services startup, is facing scrutiny after a CNBC-TV18 report highlighted concerns around its data practices, particularly the potential use of in-home customer data for unspecified research purposes.
According to the report, Pronto’s privacy policy permits the aggregation of user data for “research or statistical purposes” with no defined time limit or requirement for further consent. This has raised questions over whether such usage aligns with India’s Digital Personal Data Protection Act, 2023, which mandates purpose-specific consent for data collection and use.
The issue stems from how user consent is structured. Customers typically engage the platform for services such as cleaning, cooking, or laundry, but the policy allows data collected during such services to be used for broader, undefined research. The report notes that the policy does not clearly define the nature of this research, who may access the data, or why indefinite retention is necessary.
Also read: Pronto under fire over claims of AI recordings inside customers’ homes; Urban Company, Snabbit rule out similar practices
The scrutiny follows an earlier report cited by CNBC-TV18, which revealed that Pronto had been piloting cameras during service delivery. The initiative was linked to efforts to generate datasets for physical AI and robotics applications, based on investor documents referenced in the report.
In response, Pronto said the camera pilot operates under a separate framework from its main privacy policy. The company maintained that participation is opt-in and limited to a small subset of users who explicitly consent at the time of booking. It added that the feature is currently used by less than 0.01% of customers.
Pronto also stated that recordings are designed to avoid capturing personally identifiable information, with automated blurring applied where necessary, and that all footage is deleted within 48 hours. The company said it does not share such data…
