New Delhi: Smart home devices, designed to make our lives easier, could potentially be turning our homes into surveillance zones. From smart televisions and Wi-Fi routers to baby monitors and robot vacuum cleaners, everyday gadgets are increasingly posing severe risks to digital privacy by silently recording voices, photographs, precise locations, and daily routines.
The threat extends significantly to children’s toys. A June 2026 study by the cybersecurity research institute Cybernews analysed 10 artificial intelligence-enabled toy applications. The findings were alarming: all 10 apps requested exact location data, six asked for microphone access, and five sought camera permissions. Notably, the Miko app demanded nine different permissions and contained eight trackers. In one instance, an application continued tracking a user’s location even after being closed.
“In the case of children, the concern increases manifold because they cannot comprehend what information they are sharing,” explained Abhishek Nigam, an AI and digital privacy expert. He stressed that while these gadgets are now part of our daily lives, they can actively collect highly sensitive information like private conversations and daily schedules.
Real-world incidents highlight the gravity of these vulnerabilities. In Ahmedabad, a family installed a Wi-Fi camera to monitor their child, only to discover that the live feed was accessible on an external phone. Cybersecurity experts warn that thousands of such unsecured internet cameras in India are exposed online, leaving families vulnerable to malicious actors.
Furthermore, global vulnerabilities are frequently exposed. Spanish software engineer Sami Azdufal recently discovered a major security flaw in a company’s cloud system while trying to operate his robot vacuum with a gaming controller. This loophole exposed the data of nearly 7,000 robot vacuums across 24 countries. Similar security risks in streaming devices, smart TVs, and IP cameras have been widely documented in reports by cybersecurity firms like Bitdefender and Netgear.
Nigam noted that the danger is not limited to hacking alone; companies often harvest excessive data during general use. He advocated for greater corporate transparency regarding data collection, clear communication about why certain permissions are needed, and easier user control over data deletion.
Experts strongly advise consumers to look beyond price tags and fancy features when buying smart gadgets. Users must thoroughly check app permissions, change default passwords, enable two-step verification, and ensure regular software updates to safeguard their personal spaces.