Even Dolls Pose Hacking Risk Now, Germany Bans Toy Over Espionage Concerns

Hacking is a serious problem in the modern world, with social media accounts, web hosting companies, and even Presidential elections becoming targets. Now, it has started spilling over to children’s toys. Germany recently branded one doll in particular as a serious security threat because of its vulnerability to hacking. According to authorities, its main function as a toy that listens to children makes it able to hear everything else.

The doll in question is called My Friend Cayla, which is distributed by the Vivid Toy group. According to the Federal Network Agency (the Bundessnetzagentur), an official German watchdog group, the dolls pose a considerable privacy risk because it can collect personal data on people without their permission.

Not only is the doll banned from being sold in the country now, parents who bought the doll for their children are also being told to destroy the units that they already have with them. The order came from the watchdog group’s President, Jochen Homann himself. He is particularly concerned when it comes to electronic matters that involve children.

Homann noted the doll’s nondescript appearance, which makes it particularly problematic for being identified as a security threat. After all, if it looks like a doll, why would anyone think that it might be listening in on them?

On that note, the UK Toy Retailers Association gave their input on the matter, saying that the doll actually wasn’t a threat. Speaking to the BBC, the group said: “there is no reason for alarm.”

Reports of hacking were confirmed by the Vivid Toy group as well but said the incidents were rare. Even then, they said that the problem has since been fixed. Experts aren’t convinced that this is the case, however, and are warning that this wasn’t the case. As such, parents should simply take the safe route and get rid of the dolls.