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Germany Bans Children's Smartwatches (bbc.com)
A German regulator has banned the sale of smartwatches aimed at children, describing them as spying devices. From a report: It had previously banned an internet-connected doll called, My Friend Cayla, for similar reasons. Telecoms regulator the Federal Network Agency urged parents who had such watches to destroy them. One expert said the decision could be a "game-changer" for internet-connected devices. "Poorly secured smart devices often allow for privacy invasion. That is really concerning when it comes to kids' GPS tracking watches - the very watches that are supposed to help keep them safe," said Ken Munro, a security expert at Pen Test Partners.
I'm more worried that someone will figure out a way to make the smartwatches emit an ultrasonic tone audible only to kids below the age of 13 that contains subliminal messages instructing the kids to kill all adults, starting with their parents. And then form a kids-only kidocracy and the world would fall apart because let's face it, kids would probably only care about playing video games and eating candy.
I think it is only fair that age of consent rules should apply to getting sodomized by an insecure IoT.
Maybe they ARE thinking of the Children and are afraid of a modern IoT version of the Pied Piper.
I'll see your senator, and I'll raise you two judges.
How much do they cost? No refunds available I guess...
Also when these kids grow up they will accept privacy violations from the government and corporations, because parents trained them that fake safety is more important than your privacy.
Of course they're spying devices. That's the whole bloody point.
Children are a six-figure investment these days. One that moves on two legs and isn't wholly rational. So keeping tabs on where they are and giving them the means to call for help is a very big deal to some people.
IOW parents are now forced to give their kids a more expensive Apple iWatch.
Good job, lobbyists!
Or they become hostile to ANY kind of surveillance because they're pissed at their helicopter parents.
One can only hope.
We used to have a Bill of Rights. Now, with the rights gone, all we have left is the bill.
Zionist, yes? So that's why they now accept a load of Muslim refugees, right. After all, we all know, Muslims are the spearhead of the Zionist world domination plan.
Please, if you want to spread your conspiracy bullshit, at least try one that is remotely in tune with reality.
We used to have a Bill of Rights. Now, with the rights gone, all we have left is the bill.
Quite the opposite, just hack the insecure IoT device and you can literally tell the kid "You can run, but you cannot hide!"
We used to have a Bill of Rights. Now, with the rights gone, all we have left is the bill.
I wish I had points to give you.
Only those watches are banned that have a limited telephony function, with which the children (and also other people in its presence - like teachers, playmates, maybe even you) could also be monitored acoustically (this interception function will then be referred to as a "baby monitor" or "monitor function").
Remotely activated mobile phone (or watch) microphones are classified as illegal listening devices by Germany's Authority for Telecommunications, as Germany punishes "violations of the privacy of the spoken word" in its penal code.
Also: original source (in German).
The Raspberry Pi Piper?
Confucius say, "Find worm in apple - bad. Find half a worm - worse."
Or they become hostile to ANY kind of surveillance because they're pissed at their helicopter parents.
One can only hope.
Would make sense, the same way hippie parents created yuppies.