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FBI alert over Barbie Video Girl causes child porn panic

J

Josh Kelton

Commander
Red Shirt
http://arstechnica.com/tech-policy/...barbie-video-girl-causes-child-porn-panic.ars

childpornbarbie.png


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."
 
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Josh Kelton said:
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.
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Idiots.

Better start boycotting iPods and laptops, too. I doubt most children see a laptop and think "I'm being recorded!" So, really, they have the same potential as a doll. Another classic case of overreaction which makes sure no one anywhere is allowed to have anything fun.

I don't blame law enforcement officials for bringing attention to this doll. As they said, it's good to be aware of it. It's a good service to point it out to people.

But being 'aware of' and being 'afraid of' are two totally different things.
 
Josh, please don't hotlink images from websites. I uploaded it to Photobucket, so it's good now.

Also, in the future. try and include some personal commentary instead of just pasting the content of the article. Asking a follow-up question or stating your own opinion on the subject matter is a good way to go.

Thanks. :)
 
Don't most people who buy this toy know in advance that it has a camera? It's not like it's some kind of secret plot or any kind of bullshit like that. :rolleyes:
 
Mr. Laser Beam said:
Don't most people who buy this toy know in advance that it has a camera? It's not like it's some kind of secret plot or any kind of bullshit like that. :rolleyes:
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They're worried about pedophiles using it to take pictures or giving it to children to take pictures of themselves without parent's knowledge of its true nature (unless one of them are the pedophile), not that the parent would buy it without noticing it has a built-in camera, which is presumably clearly marked on the packaging.

Freaking out about it or calling for a boycott is ridiculous, though. The chances of this being used as some kind of stealthy tool for pedophiles with any frequency is pretty slim. In most cases it would either require the child to already be in the pedophile's custody alone at some point (where they could use the toy to fool the child), or would require them to have access to the toy in your house to retrieve the pictures. In either case the danger is already present before the toy is even needed.
 
^ yeah, this thing does not appear to have networking capability that can be hacked, so I don't see the big deal.
 
People like these things. I know this because I work in the electronics department adjacent to toys in my Walmart store, and folks keep buying them and asking about them.
 
I'd rather have a real camera anyway than some damn half-camera inside of a plastic doll. But then, I don't think iPhones should be gaming devices either...
 
If something like this had come out 40 years ago -- of course, the technology would have been cruder, say a film camera concealed in a doll somewhat larger than Barbie -- people would have thought nothing of it. We've become paranoid and dirty-minded nowadays.
 
If you go to your local Y or Boys and Girls Club, you'll probably notice a sign that bans cell phones and cameras from the pool changing rooms. Pedophiles -- and other sick people -- get off on videoing and photographing unsuspecting people when they're naked. The unfortunate side effect of this doll, while it is itself harmless, is that it can be come just another tool for people who want to do this unnoticed. Presumably, nobody would suspect a random Barbie doll in the locker room during kiddie swim time. Doesn't make the doll evil, just the people.
 
blueXmas said:
If you go to your local Y or Boys and Girls Club, you'll probably notice a sign that bans cell phones and cameras from the pool changing rooms.
Click to expand...

There are signs like that in the locker rooms at the hockey rink. They went up the same week that two referees were arrested on child pornography charges. Coincidence?
 
maybe next we should ban the kidddie versions of digital camera's and video camera's because i'm sure they've never been used for the purposes of child porn, of course, seeing how i work in CHild welfare, i know for a fact they have.
 
I didn't even get that far. My first reaction was: A Barbie doll combined with camera? WHY?

Honestly, the human species: tell me again why we deserve to be at the top of the food chain...?
 
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