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Test Achats raises safety concerns about baby monitors

21:41 29/01/2018

Many of Belgium's best-selling baby monitors present a security and safety risk, a new report by consumer protection watchdog Test Achats has warned.

The investigation focused on internet-connected monitors, which use wifi or 3G/4G to allow parents to see their child from a smartphone or tablet.

Test Achats said it could not recommend seven of the nine most popular models tested, because they did not send out a clear alert when the connection had been lost.

"Parents are not clearly warned that they are no longer monitoring their baby," the watchdog said. "When there is an alert, sometimes it is too quiet or may not be visible when the phone is locked or when the app is not open."

The investigation by Test Achats also raised privacy concerns, claiming that several models could be relatively easily hacked.

The organisation said it had raised this issue several times with authorities and that more should be done to protect Belgian consumers.