Experts Warn Smart Toys For Children Could Be Collecting User Data That Might Be Sold

That fun connected toy you might have given your child for Christmas could be collecting their data . Experts warn that smart toy makers could unknowingly sell this data to advertisers .

New Yorker Kathy Teramighi says she gave her daughter Audrey a Fuzzible Friend for Christmas a few years ago. Audrey, now 6, loves how the toy connects to Amazon Alexa to communicate with her. Teramighi explains that the toy speaks a unique language when a button is pressed, allowing Audrey to ask Alexa to translate what it says.

Privacy advocates warn against smart toys, urge FTC to do more

FURTHER AWAY

But hidden behind the requirements is information that Creativity Inc., which makes Fuzzible Friends, collects anonymous information about its users and can create transcripts of what children say.

That's just one example of a growing trend, according to researchers at the US Public Interest Research Group (PIRG). A recent report from the organization says that smart toys present new risks, including microphones and cameras, combined with significant data collection.

“Receiving children who are not essential is desperate and dangerous,” said RJ Crossing of US PIRG.

Cross said that while the data is anonymous, it is sold to advertisers to profile children, just as companies can profile adults.

Educational technology products may also present privacy risks. Human Rights Watch analyzed 163 computer-based educational products "approved by 49 countries during the pandemic" and found that 146 of them "directly threaten or violate the privacy and... other rights of children for purposes unrelated to their education." ". ".

The Electronic Privacy Information Center (EPIC) has asked the Federal Trade Commission to place strict restrictions on the collection of data about children.

"I mean, the amount of information that's collected online is unbelievable," said Alan Butler, EPIC's CEO.

He said the information would be used to track the behavior of the children.

"It's absolutely unrealistic that, as you say, parents can look at these legal documents to know what's going on technologically and what's going on with their children's data," Butler said.

The FTC declined to comment.

Amazon told CBS News in a statement: "The Fuzzible Kid skill is not currently available to Alexa subscribers, so Alexa cannot interact with Fuzzible Friends toys. The device is not made by Amazon and does not have Alexa built-in." ".

Teramighi said he would pay more attention to the fine print going forward, but he doesn't think it's necessary.

"I have to be able to trust the toy manufacturers that put the toys on the market," Teramighi said. "They assume they are serving the best needs of their child."

The creators of Fuzzible Friends and Creativity Inc., which once supported Alexa connections, did not respond to requests for comment.