A Chinese manufacturer of robotic toys accused by U.S. authorities of collecting kids’ geolocation information for a third party without parental consent has also been selling the products in Canada.
Toymaker Apitor Technology Co. was accused last month by the U.S. Federal Trade Commission (FTC) of violating the Children’s Online Privacy Protection Act. The act requires websites, apps, and other online services for children younger than 13 to notify parents about the collection of data, and obtain verifiable consent from parents before collecting the information.
The company makes robotic toys for children up to age 14. The toys can be purchased in Canada through online retailers including Amazon, Walmart, and Best Buy. The toys have been sold since at least 2022, according to U.S. authorities….