“Networked devices that are suitable for spying and endangering our privacy are prohibited. Such devices have no place, especially in children’s rooms ,” says Klaus Müller, President of the Federal Network Agency.

Be careful with smart products with audio and video functions

Smart glasses with photo and video functions are becoming increasingly popular. These could be prohibited if there are no perceptible visual or acoustic signals to adequately draw attention to a recording situation. In doing so, they invade the privacy of those around them.

Robot vacuum cleaners may be prohibited if they can secretly transmit images or audio files to the owner's smartphone via WiFi or Bluetooth. The decisive factor is whether the vacuum robots provide acoustic or visual indications that allow a third party to recognize a recording. The Federal Network Agency is currently testing several products on the market.

Food and treat machines may also be prohibited if they have a broadcast-capable camera and/or a microphone and the recording situation is not clearly recognizable as such for the people concerned.

Be careful with smart toys

Toys that allow you to secretly access images or sound recordings via an app are also spy devices. Examples of this include app-controlled robots and stuffed animals with cameras and/or microphones that can covertly listen in on the conversations of a child and other people or observe their surroundings undetected. On the other hand, interactive toys that do not connect to the Internet and cannot transmit audio and video files to third parties are not prohibited.

Be careful with everyday objects

Products that look like everyday objects and can record and transmit images or sound unnoticed are particularly insidious. The Federal Network Agency has recently noticed flower pots equipped with microphones, wall clocks equipped with cameras, piggy banks with night vision and video-capable drinking bottles.

What should you pay attention to?

Consumers should pay particular attention to this when purchasing the products mentioned

  1. Does the product have a wireless camera or microphone?
  2. Are image or audio files transmitted wirelessly to third parties without the person being recorded knowing about it or having control over the recording situation?
  3. Can the microphone or camera be secretly accessed externally?

In these cases the product is prohibited.

The Federal Network Agency advises consumers to find out exactly how they work before buying connected everyday objects. In addition, the product description and data protection regulations of the associated apps should be checked carefully.

The Federal Network Agency will help if you have any questions

If it is unclear whether a particular item is prohibited, consumers can contact us by email at funkstoerung@bnetza.de or by telephone on 0228 14 15 16 (available Monday to Friday from 9:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m.). contact the Federal Network Agency.

Source:

Federal Network Agency Not
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Notes:
1) This content reflects the current state of affairs at the time of publication. The reproduction of individual images, screenshots, embeds or video sequences serves to discuss the topic. 2) Individual contributions were created through the use of machine assistance and were carefully checked by the Mimikama editorial team before publication. ( Reason )