Consumer watchdogs announced on Tuesday that they are filing complaints against a clutch of smart toys that can "spy" on children and their homes, for allegedly breaching privacy and data protection laws.

The complaints target smart toys My Friend Cayla, i-QUE Intelligent Robot and Hello Barbie, according to the European Consumer Organisation BEUC and groups in the United States like the Electronic Privacy Information Center.

Complaints are being filed with French and other European authorities as well as the US Federal Trade Commission.