FBI warns Barbie doll could be used for child porn

Started by neoteny, Dec 07, 2010, 06:42 PM

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neoteny


FBI warns Barbie doll could be used for child porn
Dan Whitcomb   - Tue Dec 7, 1:00 pm ET


LOS ANGELES (Reuters) - The FBI has issued a "cyber crime alert" for a new Barbie doll that comes equipped with a tiny hidden video camera in her chest, saying the toy could be misused to make child porn.

The report, issued by the FBI's Sacramento field office November 30 and titled "Barbie 'Video Girl' a Possible Child Pornography Production Method," warns that the doll's camera captures up to 30 minutes of footage that can be downloaded to a computer.

But an FBI spokeswoman downplayed the document, saying it was intended for internal use by law enforcement, not the media, and such warnings are not unusual. It was apparently sent to some news organizations by mistake.

"There have been no reported incidents of this doll being used as anything other than as intended," Washington-based FBI spokeswoman Jenny Shearer said, reading from a prepared statement.

"For clarification purposes, the alert's intent was to insure that law enforcement agencies were aware that the doll, like any other video-capable equipment, could contain evidence and to not disregard such an item during a search," she said.

Shearer added that the Situational Information Report had been "taken out of context" in the media and "our intent was to aid law enforcement in evidence gathering."

The Barbie Video Girl Doll, which is manufactured by Mattel and first went on sale in July, contains a small video camera in its chest, concealed inside a locket.

Footage from the camera can be viewed on an LCD screen in the doll's back or downloaded to a computer. The FBI alert said there was no indication it could be streamed directly to the Internet.

"The FBI is not reporting that anything has happened. 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," Mattel said in a written statement provided to Reuters.

"Mattel products are designed with children and their best interests in mind. Many of Mattel's employees are parents themselves and we understand the importance of child safety -- it is our number one priority," Mattel said.

According to the Mattel website, the doll, which sells for $49.99, has been nominated for 2011 Toy of the Year.

"Girls can record and play back clips with this multi-tasking doll, which has a video camera built right in," the website says in part.

"Capture everything from a dolls-eye view and then watch it instantly or upload to your computer. There's an LCD screen on Barbie doll's back, and a camera lens hidden discreetly in her necklace. Talk about making movies in style!"
The spreading of information about the [quantum] system through the [classical] environment is ultimately responsible for the emergence of "objective reality." 

Wojciech Hubert Zurek: Decoherence, einselection, and the quantum origins of the classical

outdoors

 how nuts is this world gonna get?

The Biscuit Queen

I am sorry, I am getting a little tired of the pedophile panic. Yes, it happens. Sure we need to be careful. But people are screaming "the sky is falling" over the smallest things. Maybe we need to keep a better eye on our kids rather than expecting the world to become safe. It never will be. I would love it if it were, but that is pie in the sky thinking. Maybe we don't let little Mary post her barbie movies online? That would be too hard, now wouldn't it?
he Biscuit Queen
www.thebiscuitqueen.blogspot.com

There are always two extremes....the truth lies in the middle.

Mr. X

This is gonna sound a little heartless but, since pedophilia is incurable, I'd rather have the guy doing his thing to a movie than doing it to an actual kid. Hey 3d character package like Poser can also be used to make pedophile material. Do we ban those?

All these bans do is hurt the law abiding people who aren't sick. Pedophiles simply figure out some other way to get around it.
Feminists - "Verbally beating men like dumb animals or ignoring them is all we know and its not working."

Quentin0352

I wonder how long until they use it to start charging little boys who look up Barbie's dress now. They will just claim it is an early sign and the intense counseling they will demand these boys get from feminist researchers is needed to keep them from being future rapists and molestors or some such crap. Of course little Susie wanting him to show hsi junk to her playing doctor is just her being empowered as a female and exploring her sexual options in life being natural but a boy is a pervert in training.

gunshy

Maybe I'm miss reading the article.. but I think they're saying the doll could be placed in a room
to secretly take video of children !?!?..

Makes sense to be wary of it then.

LSBeene

No, you read it right GunShy - but, then, so can nanny cams placed in Teddy Bears. 

Steven
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Isaiah 6:8
"Whom shall I send? And who will go for us?" And I said, "Here am I. Send me!"

outdoors

Quote
"Capture everything from a dolls-eye view and then watch it instantly or upload to your computer. There's an LCD screen on Barbie doll's back, and a camera lens hidden discreetly in her necklace. Talk about making movies in style!"


to bad "johnny West" didn't have such a thing when i was a kid--woulda been some good movies worth looking at now


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