Smart Toy - the spy who loves you?

Interactive games are appealing to children. But they can be a gateway into the children's room for all kinds of uninvited guests.

Immerse yourself interactively in picture books, control racing cars via an app, talk to dolls - smart toys extend real-life play into the digital world. Such toys are fascinating and are at the top of children's wish lists. Smart toys often connect to the internet via an app on the smartphone or tablet. As parents, be careful and check the app carefully before buying. This is because when you use the app, you also accept the manufacturer's privacy policy. How does it handle personal data? Are location or voice recordings analysed?

Some of these toys are little spies with a camera and microphone. As a parent, you could use them to monitor your children - that alone is questionable. However, other people could also gain access, making the children's room a gateway for uninvited guests via the wireless connection. Consumer protection organisations also warn against this: hackers can access unsecured devices and communicate with children. And providers can collect data and use it for commercial purposes for which they have not obtained explicit permission. Great caution is required here, especially with low-cost offers.

Find out exactly what you need before you buy. Research the app's access rights: in the Google Play Store for Android devices and in the App Store for Apple devices. Read the reviews of other users. And pay attention to the packaging when buying - reputable manufacturers are transparent and inform you which data is used and how. Is it possible to connect to the internet without a username and password or PIN? Then hands off!
Your child can also help to minimise security risks. Explain how it works and set rules together about what the smart toy can be used for and when.

A toy, networked with the whole world

Smart toys can be divided into those that connect to the internet and those that work offline. Non-networked smart toys use a microphone and camera to register how the child interacts with the toy and process the information with the pre-installed software. The reaction is pre-programmed and takes place in the toy itself. Networked toys are different: they transmit data to cloud platforms via the internet, where the data is processed. Depending on the model, the intelligent toy then has access to all the knowledge on the internet. For example, if a child wants to know what the smallest animal in the world is, the software can search Wikipedia for an answer. Networking opens up a much greater wealth of possibilities - but also a much greater wealth of risks.
Picture: zVg

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