A recent investigation into the Eiliko digital pet, a robot toy designed to interact with users through changing facial expressions, has highlighted significant privacy concerns regarding how the device handles user data. According to a report by The Verge, the device transmits audio data over Wi-Fi to servers located in China.

The report alleges that the manufacturer, Energize Lab, stores these conversations in a manner that could potentially allow third parties or hackers to access or manipulate the device’s functions. The Verge’s testing involved purchasing the device from Amazon and conducting a 10-minute conversation, which reportedly resulted in the data being sent to these overseas servers. The investigation suggests that the company has not implemented sufficient safeguards to protect the privacy of users, particularly children who may interact with the toy.

While the manufacturer has not yet issued a public response to these specific claims, the report emphasizes that the lack of encryption or secure data handling poses a risk to consumers. The findings raise broader questions about the security standards of internet-connected toys and the transparency of companies regarding where and how they store personal data collected through voice-interactive devices.