Can Children Toys Spy on You? Consumer Watchdogs File Lawsuit

Is your child's favorite toy a spy in disguise? Complaints filed by consumer watchdogs in the United States and Europe claim that so-called smart toys are in violation of privacy and data protection laws. Toys including My Friend Cayla, i-QUE Intelligent Robot and Hello Barbie are the target of the watchdogs, who claim the internet-connected devices targeted to kids are recording and collecting audio without limitations. The issues being raised come from the European Consumer Organization BEUC and U.S. groups including the Electronic Privacy Information Center (EPIC), which have filed their complaints to authorities in France and across Europe as well as with the U.S. Federal Trade Commission. "The toys subject young children to ongoing surveillance and are deployed in homes across the United States without any meaningful data protection standards," the complaint from EPIC and other U.S. watchdogs said.