WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Maggie Hassan (D-NH), Ranking Member of the U.S. Joint Economic Committee, today pressed bondu, a company that makes interactive AI toys for children, for more information on its data security practices following a disturbing report about a security vulnerability that resulted in the public exposure of bondu users’ personal information. According to recent reporting in WIRED, bondu’s website allowed any user with a Google account to access “transcripts of virtually every conversation Bondu’s child users have ever had with the toy,” along with personal information including the children’s names and birthdates. In aletter to the company, Senator Hassan pointed out how the data exposure put children at risk of identity theft and other predatory behavior and requested answers from the company about its efforts to remedy the vulnerability and prevent similar incidents in the future. 

“This AI toy is marketed to children between the ages of three and nine years old, making the exposure of their information particularly devastating. The gravity of this [data] exposure raises serious concerns regarding the business model your company has adopted and your efforts to anticipate and prevent significant threats to the safety and privacy of children,” wrote Senator Hassan.

Read the full text of Senator Hassan’s letter to bondu here.

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