In an age where everything is online and connected to the internet, the dangers of doll-hacking is the latest challenge parents are facing.
With the My Friend Cayla doll proving a popular hit among little girls, the revelation that she can be hacked will no doubt prove particularly concerning for parents everywhere.
A Christmas bestseller, this toy’s main draw comes from the fact that she uses speech-to-text technology to look up information online and relay it back to you. Designed to sync up with devices via Bluetooth, you can expect to hear pretty much anything out of Cayla’s mouth, once it falls within the outlined safety guidelines.
In a disturbing revelation, however, experts have discovered that the doll can be hacked. Indeed, despite having a number of safety features, a researcher from Pen Test Partners carried out an experiment which saw the doll repeating lines from Hannibal and 50 Shades of Grey.
According to the Mirror, who contacted the toy’s creators, Vivid Toy Group, the company has taken the discovery on board and will be looking at ways to avoid any such hacking going forward.
First baby monitors, now toys – in an age where technology reigns, we need to be so careful with child supervision.
