Authorities in Germany ban sales of children’s smartwatches

BERLIN, Germany - Citing fears related to eavesdropping, Germany’s national telecommunications agency, the Federal Network Agency banned the sale of children’s smartwatches.

The agency, that has classified the smartphones as “prohibited listening devices,” has also advised parents to destroy any devices they may currently have. 

Smart devices for children, including smartwatches, cameras and other toys are internet-enabled devices that capture and transmit data to third-parties.

The smartwatches frequently use cameras, microphones and GPS trackers to allow parents to track their children in real time. 

However, if this data is not properly transmitted or stored, attackers could use this information to track and contact children without their parent’s consent.

According to the Federal Network Agency, these devices could be used by parents to listen to their children without their knowledge.

It has not mentioned security concerns in its announcement, which came nearly a month after the European Consumer Organisation (BEUC) issued a report citing privacy and safety concerns with many of the smartwatch manufacturers. 

Last month, in a report published by the Norwegian Consumer Council, the BEUC warned parents that these devices may have vulnerabilities that could make stealing data or hacking the device relatively easy. 

The organization said that it had found one of the smartwatches providing unencrypted location information to servers in China.

This is not the first time the Federal Network Agency has prohibited smart devices.

Earlier this year, the agency banned the My Friend Cayla smart doll over fears the device could be hacked and children’s data illegally collected.

Apart from Germany, the U.S. too had issued similar prohibitions earlier this year. 

The FBI warned earlier this year that children’s smart devices can “record and collect conversations within earshot of the device. Information such as the child’s name, school, like and dislikes, and activities may be disclosed through normal conversation with the toy or in the surrounding environment.”