British spooks ‘could hack into children’s toys for spying’
Britain’s intelligence agencies could take over children’s toys and use them to spy on suspects, MPs have been told.
Antony Walker of techUK said that anything connected to the Internet could “in theory” be hacked into remotely.
The draft Investigatory Powers Bill being considered by MPs would put a legal duty on Internet providers to assist in hacking devices.
With a growing number of toys now including Internet software it would be possible for Britain’s spooks to hack them, Mr Walker suggested.
Photo: Alamy
He urged the Home Office to define more tightly what “equipment interference” entailed and raised concerns about “smart toys” during an appearance before the Commons science and technology committee.
“A range of devices that have been in the news recently, in relation to a hack, are children’s toys, that children can interact with,” Mr Walker said.
“These are devices that may sit in a child’s bedroom but are accessible.
“In theory, the manufacturer of those products could be the subject of a warrant to enable equipment interference with those devices.
“So the potential extent, I think, is something that needs to be carefully considered.”
Photo: Mattel
Hello Barbie, My Friend Cayla and other talking dolls have reportedly been looked at by security experts in recent months amid concerns.
The draft legislation would increase the legal footing “equipment interference” warrants would be put on and make sure they are “only used when necessary and proportionate for a legitimate purpose”.
Mr Walker, whose organisation represents 850 UK technology firms, added: “When we start to think, not just about the world today, but the world in five, 10 years’ time as the Internet of Things becomes more real, and more pervasive.
“I think it requires careful thought in terms of where the limits should be.”
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THEY CAN DO ALL THAT – FANCY!
IN AUSTRALIA –
CENTRELINK DOES NOT WORK
I AM 65 YESTERDAY
& I JUMPED THROUGH ALL THE CORRECT HOOPS
& CORRECTLY
& WITH A POSATIVE DEMENA
& THEN – because the man at the Centrelink counter typed in my ID information incorrectly – ( my birth date where my natralisatin date should be & my natrilisation date where my birthdate should & only 2/3 of the document registration number instead of all of it )
which took him 20 minutes – as I sat & waited quietly –
FOR SOME STRANGE REASON THE PROCESS DID NOT WORK
I rang Centrelink to see if all was well they said yes
Centrelink rang me & said we needed to do it all again ( BECAUSE MY NATRALISATION CERTIFICATE THERE WAS A GLITCH WITH MY CERTIFICATE & NOT THE BOZO THE CLOWN HAD STUFFED IT UP)
I RANG THE OFFICE OF MY LOCAL FEDERAL MEMBER & SPOKE TO HIS CHIEF OF STAFF – WHO IS SUCH A NICE & NORMAL MAN & WHO WILL HELP ME IF IT IS STILL NOT WORKING – BT THAT I HAVE TO RING HIM – LIKE HE DOES NOT HAVE ENOUGH OF HIS OWN WORK TO DO THAT HE ALSO HAS TO DO THE WORK OF THE INCOMPETANT CENTRELINK STAFF.
I NOW HAVE TO RING THEM AGAIN – which will make it phone call number 7 & at least a one hour wait before I will get to talk to a human voice that will either help me or muck me around again.
THIS INEFFICIENCY IS COSTING THE TAXPAYER A SMALL FORTUNE.
And yet they know how to make toys spy on little children ?
What kind of people are un-naturally interested in children – I wonder.