Child privacy concerns lurking in patents on Google's "stuffed dolls"

ByFrancois de Halleux

Free shuttle taxi for advertising strategyYaNew trackpad designWe are pleased to announce new patents pending by Google, which has acquired numerous patents. Published patents relate to stuffed animals for children, and in addition to being able to interact in a two-way way, users can operate electronic devices such as televisions and audio via stuffed toys, Some people are worried about their privacy invasiveness.

Patent Images
http://pdfaiw.uspto.gov/.aiw?PageNum=0&docid=20150138333

Google patents 'creepy' internet toys to run the home - BBC News
http://www.bbc.com/news/technology-32843518

The patent that was applied in 2012 concerns a stuffed toy with a built-in camera, microphone, speaker and motor. According to published patents, the stuffed toy senses the movements and voices of the user, analyzes the contents through the server, and sends it to media devices (equipment) such as televisions and DVD players in the home. In other words, it is not only possible to talk but also functions like a remote controller.


In the released patents, figures in which users, stuffed toys, media devices, servers are arranged are open from the left, voice stuffed toys from users are received and sent to the server. I understand the flow that the server analyzes the message, replies to the stuffed animal, and sends the contents to the media device.


Google stated in the patent that "a stuffed animal needs cute to attract children's interests." The stuffed dolls depicted in patents are in the form of "rabbits" and "teddy bears", with cameras in their eyes, speakers in their mouths, and microphones in their ears. Also, motors are included in the face, hands and feet parts, it is possible to take action, such as staring at the user, bowing with lowering the head, bowing with the hands.


Some of the experts point out the problems that the device has, although the child seems to be pleased with the addition of the expression that it is possible to communicate and it moves. Inaugurated to protect privacy from surveillance societyBig Brother WatchThe institutionEmma Carr"There is a problem with privacy that logs of users' conversations and actions are recorded on the server," he says.

According to Mr. Carr, it is necessary for children to play freely in a privacy protected environment and to say that Google's stuffed animal is creepy in that it threatens the child's privacy.

ByLars Plougmann

It is a problem that can not be separated even if the product and privacy provided by Google are cut off, and "Right to be forgotten"Or to take pictures and movies without being noticed by others"Google Glass"Many problems have been caught, such as.

In addition, when British BBC contacted Google's public relations about stuffed toys, Google applied for patents on various ideas developed by researchers, and stuffed animals are just one of them, whether they are commercialized I'm commenting that something is undecided.