Canadian child safety advocates are urging parents to think twice before gifting AI-powered toys this holiday season, warning that many of the high-tech products hitting store shelves lack proper safeguards and may expose children to alarming risks.
From talking plush toys to interactive robots, this year’s newest gadgets come equipped with artificial intelligence that can record voices, analyze emotional cues, track behaviour patterns and engage in conversation. But according to child welfare organizations, the rapid release of these toys into an unregulated market could put children in harm’s way.
“AI toys and apps may look harmless on the store shelves, but without proper safety standards, they can expose kids to explicit, predatory, or dangerous content,” said Sara Austin, founder of Children First Canada.
Reports of Unsafe Interactions Raise Concern
Warnings intensified this month after a brand of AI plush toy was pulled from stores when researchers found it engaging in inappropriate conversations—including sexualized content and even instructions on how to find dangerous household items like knives or matches.
The Trouble in Toyland 2025 report by the U.S. PIRG Education Fund found that some AI toys gather children’s voice recordings and facial scans, raising major privacy and security concerns. Researchers caution that stolen voice data could be used to impersonate children in scams, including fake kidnapping calls.
Experts: AI Toys Are Being Released Without Proper Testing
Selma Purac, a professor at Western University who studies technology’s impact on youth, called the quick addition of AI features to children’s toys “reckless.”
“These products simulate affection and friendship. Kids can easily humanize them due to the ELIZA effect,” she explained, noting this could distort emotional development or make children vulnerable to manipulation.
McMaster University psychiatrist Dr. Teresa Bennett echoed the need for caution.
“We need transparency, accountability, and real-world testing before AI-embedded toys are released. Children’s development must be protected,” she said.
Advocates Push for National Safety Laws
At a National Child Day event on Nov. 20, a coalition of advocacy groups and health organizations demanded Parliament reintroduce digital safety laws before the end of the year.
Reports of AI toys producing harmful content are “symptoms of a larger problem,” Austin said. Canada still lacks modern online and AI safety laws specifically designed to protect children.
Bill C-63, the Online Harms Act, was intended to create stricter guardrails but died when Parliament dissolved in early 2025. Advocates say the absence of protections leaves families vulnerable.
“We cannot start another year without the protections that our kids urgently need,” Austin said.
Guidance for Parents Shopping This Season
Advocates are urging families to use extreme caution when considering AI toys. Key recommendations include:
- Treat AI toys like internet-connected devices—assume they can access or transmit information.
- Research brands thoroughly, looking for child-safety standards and privacy protections.
- Avoid toys with open-ended conversation abilities, which are more prone to unsafe responses.
- Disable connectivity or data collection where possible.
- Keep AI toys out of private spaces like bedrooms.
- Supervise use at all times, especially with younger children.
- Choose non-AI toys when unsure—traditional toys remain safer for learning and play.
“The bigger picture is that parents can’t navigate this alone,” Austin said. “As AI toys grow more sophisticated, Canada urgently needs clear rules and accountability for companies designing products for children.”