The popular electronic toymaker VTech Electronics agreed to pay $650,000 to settle charges that it had collected digital data on children without parents’ permission and failed to keep that information secure from hackers, the Federal Trade Commission said Monday.

It was the first enforcement action against a company that makes internet-connected toys by the F.T.C., which has received several complaints about privacy violations and online advertising aimed at children. Some child advocates have complained that the agency has been slow to respond to the complaints, which cover a variety of products including toys and apps for smartphones and tablets.

The F.T.C. said that the action against VTech, a Hong Kong-based maker of online apps and toys, showed the agency’s dedication to child safety and privacy issues — particularly given the fast growth of the connected toy market.

“As connected toys become increasingly popular, it’s more important than ever that companies let parents know how their kids’ data is collected and used and that they take reasonable steps to secure that data,” said Maureen K. Ohlhausen, the commission’s acting chairwoman. “Unfortunately, VTech fell short in both of these areas.”