Toy maker Mattel Inc. has canceled plans to release Aristotle, an all-in-one voice-controlled smart baby monitor come smart home hub, thanks to privacy concerns.

The device, first previewed in January, included a camera and hub that in addition to being a baby monitor also offered a voice-activated smart assistant powered by Microsoft Corp.’s Cortana artificial intelligence assistant software. Getting into creepy territory, the Aristotle was also claimed to automatically recognize when a baby wakes up and to play music or noises to soothe them; the ability to log wet diapers and feedings; automatically order diapers and formula; interact with children, including playing games and answering questions; and last but not least, detect NFC-enabled smart toys to provide sound effects when children are playing with them.

Privacy concerns relating to the device were first raised by the Campaign for a Commercial-Free Childhood, which noted that the Aristotle collects and stores data about a child’s activity and interactions with it and that it also connects to other apps and online retailers, which means that data may be shared with those partner corporations. In Congress, Senator Edward Markey and Congressman Joe Barton also raised concerns with the device, asking Mattel how it would protect children’s privacy.

Mattel claimed that Aristotle would use “high level encryption” and wouldn’t be sharing data with advertisers, but it now has second thoughts. The Washington Post reported that new Chief Technology Officer Sven Gerjets has determined that it did not “fully align with Mattel’s new technology strategy” and would therefore not be offered for sale.

Although the privacy aspects are very much real, others were more concerned about the device being used in place of parental supervision and interaction. Pediatrician Jennifer Radesky told the Post that “my main concerns about this technology — apart from the privacy concerns that [Markey and Barton] are trying to address — is the idea that a piece of technology becomes the most responsive household member to a crying child, a child who wants to learn, or a child’s play ideas.”

Despite Aristotle’s cancellation, it’s likely that other companies will bring to market smart home devices catering to children in the future. Whether adequate safeguards can be put in place to placate privacy concerns is another matter. Given that consumers are already putting devices from Amazon and Google in their homes that can monitor everything they do, it’s dubious how much most people will be concerned with the privacy of their children either.

Photo: Mattel