"Smart" toys may have you under surveillence
Fresh from the "Bah Humbug" file, there are a couple of internet connected toys being outed for surreptitious data collection of conversations with children to the companies without their parent's permission.It seems a watchdog coalition has filed complaints with various regulation entities alleging privacy violations by Genesis Toys and Nuance Communications regarding those mechnanisms by which children have allegedly been both "spyed upon" and from which "data has been accumulated".
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| My Friend Cayla and Intelligence Robot |
The Genesis Toys "My Friend Cayla" doll and the i-Que "Intelligence Robot" ask a few prelimnary questions all appearing innocent enough like demographics and such. These toys come with a smartphone app which allegedly has been transmitting this data back to the company (in the name of product improvement, no less) but the consumer doesn't appear to be as stupid as the companies apparently believe.
This storage is said to be on Nuance servers ... and sources indicate that it may be stored on Google servers as well. Parents are concerned regarding the scope of recording and transmittal of these interactions with their children.
These antics have resulted in the toys being pulled from retail shelves by some outlets and there is pending litagation both here and across the pond.
My only observaion regarding these shenanigans is this is only the beginning.