Germany Declares Playing with Cayla Dolls Illegal

One talking doll popular among little girls in Germany has been banned because a German telecommunications watchdog apprehends the toy's turning online could allow hackers to exploit the technology and create havoc among the children.

Parents are being advised they destroy the toy known to be Cayla dolls if they've already bought them. Reportedly, released during 2014, Cayla has the capability of communicating with the doll's owners while answer anything they ask.

BBC explains the ban is to prevent hackers from potentially employing one unprotected Bluetooth device implanted into the My Friend Cayla toys so the crooks can talk and listen what the children say while engrossed with their dolls. The said problem with Bluetooth devices was lately referred to in one complaint by privacy groups, consumer forums and child advocacy groups in USA lodged with FTC (Federal Trade Commission). The mentioned benefactor groups too stated that Internet-attached toys were monitoring kids' activities while causing danger to the privacy and protection they were entitled to.

A report by Netzpolitik.org a German blog states that University of Saarland's Prof. Stefan Hessel studied the doll for finding out if its existence was a violation of certain telecommunications act in Germany which regards abuse of any broadcasting appliance illegal. The purpose of this act is for controlling espionage. Since the microphone in the Cayla doll can be insecurely accessed through the Bluetooth, Prof. Hessel categorized the toy as prohibitive equipment of broadcasting. Thedrum.com posted this, February 17, 2017.

The toys can as well be used when a company tries targeting little girls alternatively their parents by sending them both advertisements. Also, with an inadequately protected radio link by the dolls' manufacturer, nearby parties could use the toy for spying on conversations.

Now, there won't be the dolls' further sale inside Germany as the watchdog warns parents against possessing the toys, classifying the act as illegal pertaining to what has been termed unlicensed radio appliance. According to a report by Spiegel Online, the Federal Network Agency too termed any toy having clandestine sound recording/image as prohibitory inside the country while the agency is thinking about testing more of communicative toys.

» SPAMfighter News - 2/22/2017