The holidays are upon us, including “cyber week” filled with deals for shopping for the holidays. The U.S. Public Interest Research Group (PIRG) is warning shoppers about smart toys this holiday season. In its article,...more
There is a federal law, the Children’s Online Privacy Protection Act (COPPA), that requires app developers to obtain parental consent before collecting information from children under the age of 13. The law has been on the...more
While smart toys can certainly be useful educational tools for children, they also present some potential privacy risks and could invade what is traditionally a private space. Think about it—the thought of your child’s toy...more
Since 2015, the advent of smart and internet-connected toys has, according to some practitioners, transformed this age from that of the “Internet of Things” to the “Internet of Toys.” The potential unlawful surveillance and...more
On July 22, 2020, the Federal Trade Commission ("FTC") issued revised FAQs regarding the Children's Online Privacy Protection Act and the FTC Rule issued thereunder (together "COPPA"). The COPPA FAQs provide practical...more
Holiday shopping is in full gear and everything seems to be an Internet of Things (IoT) device. It continues to amaze me how folks will buy IoT gadgets and plop them in their homes and have no idea that they include a speaker...more
This past September Governor Brown signed into law Senate Bill 327, which is the first state law designed to regulate the security features of Internet of Things (IoT) devices. ...more
On January 8, 2018, the FTC announced that VTech, maker of electronic toys for children, agreed to settle charges that it violated the law by collecting personal information without parental consent....more
The Federal Trade Commission on Jan. 8 announced its first settlement of alleged violations of the Children’s Online Privacy Protection Act arising from internet-connected toys. The FTC complaint against VTech followed the...more
Every year, especially around the holidays, more and more products that connect to the internet hit the market. For adults, connected home devices that act like personal domestic assistants have become increasingly popular....more
In August 2017, Disney and three of its software developer vendors were sued in a class action in California in which it was alleged that Disney collected children’s information in violation of the Children's Online Privacy...more
As connected devices become ubiquitous, it comes as no surprise that interactive toys that connect to the internet are more popular than ever. At the same time, regulators have taken note of the privacy and security concerns...more
In the wake of the holiday season, it seems that even toys are not immune from privacy and security pitfalls. Two “connected” toys, Genesis Toys’ My Friend Cayla and i-Que robot, have been accused of violating U.S. and...more