Law school professors and consumer advocates are backing the FBI's recent decision to warn consumers about the risks associated with internet connected toys. There are privacy and cybersecurity worries about the presence of “smart, interactive, internet-connected toys,” according to the FBI's statement.

“Smart toys and entertainment devices for children are increasingly incorporating technologies that learn and tailor their behaviors based on user interactions,” the FBI cautioned. “These toys typically contain sensors, microphones, cameras, data storage components, and other multimedia capabilities—including speech recognition and GPS options. These features could put the privacy and safety of children at risk due to the large amount of personal information that may be unwittingly disclosed.”

“Kudos to the FBI for being ahead of the curve on privacy, security and stalking threats from connected devices,” Ed Mierzwinski, consumer program director at the Federation of State Public Interest Research Group (U.S. PIRG), told Legaltech News. “We'd also better hope that connected cars have better security than connected dolls.”