Smart children's watches raise privacy concerns

A recent security study has raised concerns about the level of protection in some smartwatches designed for children, after tests demonstrated that technical vulnerabilities could be exploited to access sensitive functions and data on devices that rely on location-based systems.

According to a report by WIRED magazine, security researchers tested a low-cost watch operating on the SETracker platform and showed that its location could be tracked and remote access gained to certain functions, such as the microphone and camera, without clear notification to the user.

The findings were not limited to a single device. The researchers examined more than 70 location-tracking devices and found that a significant number rely on a limited set of shared platforms and software architectures, which could expand the scope of impact if vulnerabilities exist in the backend systems.

The investigation noted that the relevant companies had been informed of the issues in advance. A party associated with SETracker stated that security issues had been addressed, while the status of some other systems remains a cause for concern. The results underscore the importance of verifying security updates and privacy policies before selecting connected devices intended for children.