The organizations also accuse Genesis of failing to prevent unauthorized Bluetooth devices from connecting to the toys. Someone could eavesdrop on conversations, according to the complaint, raising the threat of "predatory stalking and physical danger." Bluetooth normally requires that you be relatively close (within 33 feet), but that would still allow someone at a playground or outside the home to snoop on unaware kids.

It's uncertain whether or not the FTC and EU will address the complaints. We've also asked Genesis and Nuance for their responses. However, it won't be surprising if this prompts some companies to rethink how they make smart toys, including those that use cameras and otherwise capture what kids are doing. Simply speaking, a toy isn't the same as a smart speaker or other typical voice-activated devices -- it's explicitly aimed at kids, and there are different privacy expectations as a result.