In Chicago, lawmakers on Capitol Hill have voiced apprehensions regarding the potential utilization of smart toy devices, potentially manufactured in China, for espionage purposes against American citizens.

The House Select Committee on the Chinese Communist Party has urged the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) to take proactive measures concerning electronic products originating from China. This call stems from concerns that Chinese authorities might be surreptitiously listening in and collecting sensitive information without individuals' awareness.

Although a talking doll might appear to be an innocuous plaything for children, it's the internet-connectivity features of devices like the "My Friend Cayla" that are raising red flags regarding the potential for foreign entities to engage in espionage.

The doll, referred to as a "spy doll" by the committee, has garnered attention due to its link to companies Quectel and Fibocom, which have affiliations with the Chinese Communist Party (CCP). These companies possess the ability to control and potentially access 45% of the global cellular internet modules that facilitate connections between dolls, as well as other devices such as cars, medical equipment, and critical infrastructure, to the internet.

Lawmakers are expressing concerns that the doll, manufactured by the China-based company Genesis Toys, could serve as an "illegal eavesdropping device," amplifying worries of unauthorized surveillance activities.