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AI toys 'could cause children psychological harm and should be banned'

The Independent·Will Meakin-Durrant·4 days ago
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Related: Doctors issue warning over potentially fatal children’s Christmas gift

A group of UK parliamentarians has urged Amazon and eBay to stop selling toys with built-in AI chatbots ahead of the Christmas shopping period over fears of psychological harm.

The MPs and peers have also called on the Government to use the Consumer Protection Act 1987 to ban generative AI toys altogether.

The intervention follows evidence showing an AI-enabled rabbit toy providing inappropriate sexual responses when asked about physical contact.

Campaigners warned that AI toys are entering the UK under standard soft toy tariff codes without prior testing for safeguarding or psychological risks.

Amazon said it is removing the highlighted toy while investigating, and the UK Government confirmed it is urgently examining the potential risks of AI toys.

In full Half of UK children own AI toys despite parental safety fears, survey finds

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