Action Needed to Protect Kids From Connected Toys, Consumer Groups Tell FTC

Internet-connected toys and smartwatches continue to pose privacy concerns the FTC should address, consumer and privacy groups told the agency Monday. The My Friend Cayla and i-Que Intelligent Robot toys are of particular concern, said the Consumer Federation of America, one of several groups that asked the FTC to look into the threat in October (see 1710180021).The FTC said Monday it received the letter but had no further comment. Several major retailers have stopped selling the products "with the exception of Amazon," the groups said, though Walmart's website Monday displayed a listing for a reduced price version of the doll. Amazon didn't comment. The Cayla doll is listed in U.S. Public Interest Research Group's 2017 Trouble in Toyland list. “Connected toys raise serious privacy concerns,” said Marc Rotenberg, president of Electronic Privacy Information Center. “Kids should play with their toys and their friends, and not with surveillance devices dressed as dolls.”