VTech, a company that makes baby monitors, children’s tablets and other educational toys, revealed recently that data for 5 million customers had been hacked—meaning that cybercriminals had access to kids’ birthdates, addresses and email.

Given that a growing number of companies are selling smart toys to children (and their parents), many cyber-security experts say this is just the beginning.

“Toy companies are rushing to cash in on the changing nature of childhood in the Big Data era, where Internet-connected toys are linking children to a vast surveillance network,” said Jeffrey Chester, executive director of the Center for Digital Democracy. “These playthings can monitor their every move, turning what should be innocent and pleasurable experiences into something potentially more sinister.” (Washington Post)