Smart toys, those that connect to the internet, are growing in popularity. While they are cool, they can put your child’s privacy and safety at risk.
“They usually gather a lot more data on children than parents will realize, and data collection is inherently risky,” said R.J. Cross, director of the Don’t Sell My Data Campaign at the U.S. PIRG Education Fund. “Any time you have a company that’s holding data about a kid, the chances of that data being exposed in a breach or hack really increases. And we’ve seen smart toy manufacturers expose the personal information of millions of children online, including photos and voice recordings. You know, that’s really scary for parents.”
If a toy is connected to the internet, it’s important for parents to understand the technology that enables the toy to interact with your child. Are there microphones, cameras, or sensors? Does the toy allow the child to make purchases without your permission? What data is collected, how it will be used, and if it will be shared or sold to other companies?
The only way to get those answers is to read the privacy policy before you turn on the toy.
More Info: Are Your Kids’ Smart Toys Spying on Them?
