These side effects are often unforeseeable and do not necessarily involve malevolence from their creators. SCTs’ capabilities and constraints can lead to serious side effects at the technical, individual, and societal levels such as the potential exacerbation of inherent biases for gender stereotyping, dependency, or the creation of new forms of play that blur the lines between the tangible and intangible reality (Berriman and Mascheroni 2019 Keymolen and Van der Hof 2019). Unfortunately, children and their parents are often unaware of SCTs’ far-reaching capacities and limitations (Moini 2016 Albuquerque et al. Article 5, UNCRC in this respect provides that the evolving capacities of children, including their age and level of development, should be taken into account in interpreting the rights enshrined in the Convention. Given the topic of the paper-smart toys-we however focus on younger children. A child is ‘every human being below the age of eighteen years unless under the law applicable to the child, majority is attained earlier ’. SCTs’ target users may vary vastly, going from small children to young adults. While the focus of this article does not rest on specific technologies, the literature reviewed indicates that more and more SCTs are equipped with machine-learning capabilities to enable greater interaction (e.g., facial recognition to personalize communications with specific children). They can also interact with humans through voice, movement, or other modalities, with different sociality levels, i.e., they can be socially evocative and receptive and include a social interface to be more sociable (Breazeal 2003). As the word indicates, SCTs are connected to the Internet, reactive, and adaptable to changes in the environment. Different typologies of SCTs exist, such as the distinction of affective, functional, physical, and fictional affordances (Ihamäki and Heljakka 2018). 2017) and the concept of the Internet of Toys (IoToys) in particular, i.e., the system enabling the interaction between SCTs. We focus on SCTs in general (Yankson et al. This article investigates the disconnect and lack of adequate redress between the side effects raised by SCTs, especially on an individual and societal level, and the regulatory means to address them. An overfocus on the opportunities of these systems for children overlooks and underestimates the risks and challenges that AI systems may hold for this group (UNICEF 2020). However, children increasingly use smart connected toys (SCTs), which are connected to the internet, equipped with machine learning and an ever-increasing capability to listen, observe, talk, and interact with them without appropriate guidance. Moreover, country policies usually refer to children as the future AI workforce, emphasizing the need for more robust science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) education to equip them with the necessary skills for an AI future. According to UNICEF ( 2020), most major ethical guidelines and national AI strategies make superficial allusions to children and their specific needs. ![]() 2019), how AI impacts children and their rights has received inadequate attention. Although there is an increasing interest in artificial intelligence (AI) in policymaking (Gasser and Almeida 2017 Jobin et al. We thereby highlight misfits and needs for further policymaking efforts.Īutonomous cars, rehabilitation robots, smart home appliances, robot toys, and virtual assistants are just a few examples of technologies that increasingly interact with humans, including children, youth, and adults, in private, professional, or public settings. This article provides an analysis of the arising side effects of SCTs and contrasts them with current regulatory redress mechanisms. Although existing regulations and new ethical guidelines for artificial intelligence provide remedies to address some of the side effects, policymakers did not develop these redress mechanisms having children and SCTs in mind. They arise from the technology's use and the interconnected nature of the IoToys, without necessarily involving malevolence from their creators. These side effects are often unforeseeable and unexpected. The capabilities and constraints of SCTs create severe side effects at the technical, individual, and societal level. ![]() Unfortunately, this young part of the population and, most of the time, their parents are often unaware of SCTs’ far-reaching capacities and limitations. The network of SCTs forms the Internet of Toys (IoToys) and often increases children's engagement and playtime experience. Equipped with sensors, data processing capacities, and connectivity, SCTs targeting children increasingly penetrate pervasively personal environments. Policymakers need to start considering the impact smart connected toys (SCTs) have on children.
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