Eiliko Robot Toy Sends User Secrets to Chinese Servers, Raising Hacking Fears

A new digital pet has entered the market, captivating users with its adorable, marshmallow-like design and ability to adapt its cartoony expressions to match their mood. However, this seemingly innocuous robot, named 'Eiliko,' harbors a significant privacy and security risk that has drawn sharp criticism from tech experts. According to a report by The Verge AI, if users, particularly children, engage in conversations with Eiliko over Wi-Fi, the device transmits all spoken data directly to servers located in China. Its integrated AI companion is designed to store "literally everything" communicated to it on these Chinese servers. This raises alarming concerns about the vulnerability of personal information, as these servers could be easily accessed by hackers, or even worse, the robot's personality could be hijacked. The manufacturer, Energize Lab, appears to be indifferent to these profound security implications. Sean Hollister, a reporter for The Verge, purchased an Eiliko from Amazon and conducted a test. During a 10-minute conversation, he specifically asked the bot, "Do you ever tell anybody else what I'm saying?" The robot's response, "Your secrets are safe with me," stands in stark contrast to its actual data handling practices, highlighting a deceptive assurance regarding user privacy. This incident underscores a growing concern in the IoT (Internet of Things) sector, where connected devices, especially those marketed to children, often collect and transmit sensitive data without adequate transparency or robust security measures. The potential for foreign servers to store intimate personal conversations, coupled with the risk of unauthorized access, presents a serious threat to user trust and data sovereignty.