FBI Warns Consumers of Technology That Tracks Kids Via Smart Toys

The FBI issued a public service announcement warning parents of smart toys that "could put the privacy and safety of children at risk."

The bureau is encouraging consumers to consider cybersecurity before buying Internet-connected devices for their kids.

"Smart toys and entertainment devices for children are increasingly incorporating technologies that learn and tailor their behaviors based on user interactions," the FBI wrote. "These toys typically contain … multimedia capabilities — including speech recognition and GPS options. These features could put the privacy and safety of children at risk due to the large amount of personal information that may be unwittingly disclosed."

Those features could pick up information such as name, school they attend and activities the child may participate in.

At risk is child identity fraud or worse, the FBI advises.

"Additionally, the potential misuse of sensitive data such as GPS location information, visual identifiers from pictures or videos, and known interests to garner trust from a child could present exploitation risks," the FBI wrote.

The FBI encourages consumers to understand companies' user agreements and privacy practices.

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