Space Bar
Joined: 20 Oct 2010
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 Posted: Mon Dec 06, 2010 8:01 pm Post subject: Predator Barbie |
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FBI alert over Barbie Video Girl causes child porn panic
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A new Barbie doll that comes with a built-in camera could be used by predators to create child porn, the Federal Bureau of Investigation has warned. The Barbie Video Girl has been available in stores since July, but the FBI sent out a "Cyber Crime Alert" (PDF) about the doll to its Sacramento Field Office last week, and it was leaked to the public on Monday.
The doll's press materials claim that "unsuspecting subjects won't know that Barbie is watching their every move." Indeed, the camera is apparently disguised as a necklace around Barbie's neck. Her legs store the batteries and there's a tiny LCD on the back along with the controls. Videos can be transferred via mini-USB cable (don't tell me where you plug that in) and they don't require any proprietary software to view or edit. Aside from the fact that it's hidden inside a doll, the whole setup looks very Flip-like.
The document itself is unclassified, so the media leak was probably inevitable. Since Monday morning, concerned adults have told several news outlets that they are avoiding the toy, and (of course) there's now a Facebook group calling for a boycott.
Mattel, needless to say, is in emergency mode in response to the sudden outrage. "The FBI is not reporting that anything has happened," Mattel told Reuters in a statement. "Steve Dupre from the FBI Sacramento field office has confirmed there have been no incidents of this doll being used as anything other than its intent."
The FBI agreed, issuing its own statement saying that the alert was merely to draw law enforcement's attention to the doll "like any other video-capable equipment." |
Since all cameras can potentially be used to create kiddy porn, shouldn't we be urging all camera manufacturers to cease producing their poential crime instruments? |
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Thanks for the bump