TY - JOUR

T1 - Emotional artificial intelligence in children’s toys and devices: Ethics, governance and practical remedies

AU - McStay, Andrew

AU - Rosner, Gilad

N1 - Article first published online: March 15, 2021; Issue published: January 1, 2021 This work is supported by Economic and Social Research Council [grant number ES/T00696X/1] and Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council [grant number EP/R045178/1].

PY - 2021/3/15

Y1 - 2021/3/15

N2 - This article examines the social acceptability and governance of emotional artificial intelligence (emotional AI) in children’s toys and other child-oriented devices. To explore this, it conducts interviews with stakeholders with a professional interest in emotional AI, toys, children and policy to consider implications of the usage of emotional AI in children’s toys and services. It also conducts a demographically representative UK national survey to ascertain parental perspectives on networked toys that utilise data about emotions. The article highlights disquiet about the evolution of generational unfairness, that encompasses injustices regarding the datafication of childhood, manipulation, parental vulnerability, synthetic personalities, child and parental media literacy, and need for improved governance. It concludes with practical recommendations for regulators and the toy industry.

AB - This article examines the social acceptability and governance of emotional artificial intelligence (emotional AI) in children’s toys and other child-oriented devices. To explore this, it conducts interviews with stakeholders with a professional interest in emotional AI, toys, children and policy to consider implications of the usage of emotional AI in children’s toys and services. It also conducts a demographically representative UK national survey to ascertain parental perspectives on networked toys that utilise data about emotions. The article highlights disquiet about the evolution of generational unfairness, that encompasses injustices regarding the datafication of childhood, manipulation, parental vulnerability, synthetic personalities, child and parental media literacy, and need for improved governance. It concludes with practical recommendations for regulators and the toy industry.

KW - Emotional artificial intelligence

KW - children

KW - parents

KW - toys

KW - governance

KW - data protection

U2 - https://doi.org/10.1177%2F2053951721994877

DO - https://doi.org/10.1177%2F2053951721994877

M3 - Article

VL - 8

JO - Big Data and Society

JF - Big Data and Society

SN - 2053-9517

IS - 1

ER -