Redazione RHC : 6 September 2025 12:33
The U.S. Department of Justice has filed a lawsuit against Apitor Technology, accusing it of secretly collecting children’s location data through a Chinese partner without their parents’ knowledge or consent. The lawsuit stems from a notice from the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) alleging violations of the COPPA rules, which govern protecting children’s personal information online.
Apitor produces kits for creating programmable toy robots for children ages 6 to 14. The robots are controlled via a free Android app that requires access to geolocation. However, the app also includes a third-party SDK, JPush, developed by the Chinese company Jiguang (Aurora Mobile).
It has been used since 2022 to collect the precise coordinates of thousands of children in the background and then transmit the data to internet servers in China. According to the complaint, this information could be used for any purpose, including targeted advertising.
Investigators emphasize that nowhere in the interface did the app inform users that a third party was accessing geographic data, nor did it require verifiable parental consent. The document explicitly states that, after granting permission on Android, the program began tracking the child’s coordinates and sending them to the network without any control.
As a result, a preliminary settlement has been reached.
Apitor is required to ensure that any third-party software integrated into its products complies with COPPA requirements. The company must also inform parents of plans to collect personal information, obtain their consent, delete the accumulated data, and retain only what is strictly necessary.
An additional fine of $500,000 was imposed, but payment has been suspended due to the manufacturer’s dire financial situation. If Apitor is found to have concealed the true situation, the full amount will be collected.
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