Warning: *privacy not included with this product
Ubtech Jimu Robot Kits
Review date: 11/02/2020
Coding robots for kids are cool. These coding kits from Ubtech come in all shapes and sizes--from a dragon-shaped Firebot to a truck-shaped Overdrive bot, to our favorite, the Unicornbot complete with light-up horn. Whichever bot you choose, code it up to detect distance with sonar, navigate obstacles with IR sensors, program the lights to flash and the motor to rev up. These bots sounds like fun and learning for all ages.
What could happen if something goes wrong
As cool as these robot kits look, there are some red flags we see with them. First off, the app you use to control these robots accesses the camera, microphone, and tracks your location. This, by itself, isn't a deal breaker. Although, that is a lot of access to give to a device your kid will be playing with. The real issue we have is that the privacy policy we found for this product applies only to the website, not to the Jimu device or app. So, a product that could potentially be collecting a lot of data on your kid as it plays with this toy has no privacy policy we found for how it uses, protects, or doesn't protec,t that data. Not good. So if your child is playing with the Unicornbot and the camera is on and records the kid playing, we have no idea how Ubtech handles those recordings.
Privacy
Can it snoop on me?
Camera
Device: No
App: Yes
Microphone
Device: No
App: Yes
Tracks Location
Device: No
App: Yes
What is required to sign up?
Yes
Phone
Yes
Third party account
Yes
What data does it collect?
Personal
With no privacy policy for the device, we are unable to tell what personal data this device collects on users.
Biometric
With no privacy policy for the device, we are unable to tell what personal data this device collects on users.
Social
How does it use this data?
How can you control your data?
What is the company’s known track record for protecting users’ data?
No known incidents in the last 2 years.
Can this product be used offline?
User friendly privacy information?
Links to privacy information
Security
Does this product meet our Minimum Security Standards?
Encryption
Strong password
You don't need to log in to use the app
Security updates
Manages vulnerabilities
We were unable to determine whether the company manages security vulnerabilities.
Privacy policy
Ubtech has a privacy policy but it doesn't appear to apply to the device – only the company's website.
