The diffusion among the little ones
Smartwatch for children are becoming more and more common in Swiss elementary schools. These devices represent a simplified version of the smartphone, offering features such as calls, messages, video calls and GPS location that allows parents to always know the position of the children. However, behind this apparent comfort there are significant risks for safety and privacy.
The investigation that shed light on the dangers
The monthly of Swiss consumers K-Tipp has conducted an in-depth investigation in collaboration with the company specialized in computer security Compass Security. The goal was to evaluate the safety and reliability of these increasingly popular devices among families.
The devices undergoing the test
The research examined eleven different models of smartwatches destined for children. The range of prices analyzed has been very large: it started from cheap cheap devices of Chinese production up to the Apple Watch if, with a considerable cost difference ranging from cheaper products to premium ones.
The most serious vulnerabilities
The results of the investigation highlighted extremely serious problems. Six tested models presented a critical flaw that allowed adults to secretly listen to the child’s conversations through the application installed on their smartphones. Even more worrying is the case of a Chinese model, the Okyuk Children’s Smartwatch, which even allowed to activate hidden video calls, effectively transforming the watch into an environmental surveillance tool.
Different devices, including models such as Swgota and Look me! 3, use the “Setracker” application which, through the “Sound Guardian” function, enable fully invisible calls on the child’s watch display.
The European regulatory framework
Germany has already adopted drastic measures by prohibiting these devices after discovering that some parents used them to spy on teachers’ conversations during school lessons. Switzerland has not yet implemented a specific ban, even if the federal data protection authority clarified that recording or intercepting private conversations without the consent of the interested parties constitutes a crime.
In Italy the situation presents some peculiarities: while the ministerial legislation explicitly prohibits the use of smartphones in schools, does not make any specific reference to smartwatches, creating a gray regulatory area.
The most dangerous computer flaws
The investigation revealed extremely serious IT vulnerabilities. Two models in particular, the XPLORA XGO3 KIDS and the TCL Movetime Family Watch, transmitted completely not encrypted data, making sensitive information accessible such as the passwords of domestic wi-fi networks.
The “Setracker” application presents a known vulnerability using the “123456” sequence as a predefined password, a weakness of security that in the past has already allowed malinent to compromise the watches worn by children. In one of the most serious cases, the researchers discovered that a Chinese producer server had been compromised with the installation of a backdoor by external hackers.
Market reactions
After the publication of the results of the investigation, several distribution chains reacted in different ways. Digitec Galaxus and Media Markt immediately announced the suspension of sales of the models vulnerable results. Interdiscount instead chose to download responsibility for the producers, while Amazon said he had started internal checks while continuing to market the devices in question.
The few models considered safe
According to the analysis conducted by K-Tipp, only three smartwatches have passed all security tests without presenting significant flaws: the Apple iwatch se, Xplora X6 and Anio 5s. These devices have shown to transmit data encryptedly and have declared full compliance with European and Swiss regulations regarding the protection of personal data.
The debate on constant surveillance
Beyond the technical security aspects, the investigation raised broader questions about the opportunity to submit children to constant GPS monitoring. The Swiss federal person in charge for data protection expressed a clear position on this issue, claiming that children also have the right to privacy and that permanent control by parents is disproportionate to the protection purposes.
The attitude of schools
In educational institutions, both in Switzerland and in Italy, an increasingly critical orientation towards these devices is spreading. An increasing number of school managers invites families to leave smartwatches outside the classrooms, motivating this request with the fact that these devices tend to distract students, disturb the regular performance of the lessons and present the concrete risk of transforming themselves into unauthorized surveillance tools within the school environment.
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