Hot Wheels—those little metal cars that are so much fun to zoom, race, and get stuck in places they shouldn't—have been around since 1968. In 2020 they've been updated to the internet age with what Mattel bills as "the smartest hot wheels track ever." Use a smartphone or tablet to track how fast your car flys, how many laps your car has done, and what tricks it's pulled. It all sounds really cool and something kids in 1968 probably would have never dreamed of.
What could happen if something goes wrong?
There is probably not much that could go wrong with this Hot Wheels smart track. The app connects by secure Bluetooth and as your kids will most likely be playing at home, that doesn't pose much of a security risk. Mattel seems to do a decent job protecting users' privacy. If you choose to create a Mattel Login, the date of birth is used to flag children under 13 (in the United States), and then immediately deleted. Anyone over the age of 13 may have their personal information shared with third parties for marketing purposes, which means you'll probably be getting ads and catalogs for more toys. As a parent, you're probably getting a ton of those already.
Can it snoop on me?
Camera
Device: No
App: No
Microphone
Device: No
App: No
Tracks location
Device: No
App: Yes
What can be used to sign up?
No
Phone
No
Third-party account
No
What data does the company collect?
Personal
Date of birth, parent's email address
Body related
Social
How does the company use this data?
How can you control your data?
What is the company’s known track record of 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
Does this product meet our Minimum Security Standards?
Encryption
Uses encryption in transit and at rest.
Strong password
Security updates
Manages vulnerabilities
Mattel has a bug bounty process for people to report security vulerabilities.
Privacy policy
Mattel included user-friendly privacy information on their FAQ page.
Does the product use AI?
Is this AI untrustworthy?
What kind of decisions does the AI make about you or for you?
Is the company transparent about how the AI works?
Does the user have control over the AI features?
Comments
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