FBI: Video Barbie Could be Used for Child Porn
The FBI has sent out a warning about a Barbie doll that it fears could be used by sexual predators to create child porn.
We caught a glimpse of Barbie Video Girl late last month at Pepcom NYC. Though she's been on store shelves since July, we were intrigued by the idea of implanting a camera into Barbie rather than just producing a pink, Barbie-branded camera.
Embedded in Barbie's back is a tiny LCD, which displays video being shot by the discreet camera hidden in Barbie's necklace. Batteries to power the device are housed in Barbie's legs and a USB port is implanted in her lower-back. With 30 minutes of recording time, your daughter won't be able to make a feature length movie of her doll's tea party, but she will be able to add music and visual effects thanks to some free video-editing software on Barbie.com.
Unfortunately, the FBI fears that this toy may pose a risk to children because the camera is so discreet. In a file sent to its Sacramento Field Office, the Bureau lists Barbie Video Girl as a possible method for the production of child pornography. Though the FBI concedes that there is no way to stream Barbie Video Girl footage to the internet, the notice warns that footage can be streamed to a computer and copied to computers via USB.
When contacted for comment, Mattel told us that despite the warning, the FBI is not saying that anything untoward has happened.
"The FBI is not reporting that anything has happened," said Rebecca Scoto in an emailed 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 as intended," she added.
The company famous for producing Barbie dolls went on to say that it designs all products 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."
Still, if you're against the idea of Barbie Video Girl, you could always join the boycott group that's been set up on Facebook. 'Get Rid of Barbie Video Girl currently has 54 members.
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Thats the stupidest goddamn thing I've ever heard. So what now? We're going to start out lawing cameras because someone can film bad stuff with them? Or at the very LEAST the FBI has kneeled before the craze of doing alot of CYA and simply issuing warnings so they cant get sued? STUPID~!!!~!!
WTF is the US coming to...
LOL i agree, not exactly what a 5 year old girl is wanting... and ya pretty stupid they are slightly 'freaking out' about this cameras are everywhere anways.
Good job FBI...you just gave countless pedos the idea how to exploit this toy. Sometimes it is best to not mention things if an issue hasn't happened yet.
I dont get how it cud get exploited myself. The childs gonna be in charge of the recording and its not as if theyre gonna shoot a porno. And a pedo would probably use a better camera. Maybe im just naive but i dont see whats the problem, its just a camera which is widely available anyway.
Let me get this straight. The same US gov't that wants to put cameras everywhere and scan children's bodies at airports is complaining about things with cameras. Wow, we need to stop paying these people's paychecks.
Well, yes. When they do it, it's for the public good. When we do it, something bad might happen.
They should take the camera out and sell it off as "Smoker Barbie" as a warning to kids about the dangers of smoking and the resulting hole in their chest.
i honestly believe that digital cameras of any kind should be illegal for people under the age of 18.
if you know what jail bait is, or that some girls look older than they really are, and finding porn is a scary thing, because how do you know they are old enough you wont go to prison for saving that img.
i firmly believe that cameras of any digital kind should never be sold to kids, they need classic film because if they take a nude there parents will see it and people developing them or running the developer will see them and most likely stop them from ever hitting the internet.
zzzz- really crazy
My ex said she used to masturbate with barbies when she was young. I don't advocate laws or government though so idc about the camera barbie.
now i know why shes your ex
Who the hell comes up with this shit?
@alidan
Honestly, that is the dumbest thing I've ever read.
this just in... cameras can be used for pron... in other news, water still wet.
Good job FBI...you just gave countless pedos the idea how to exploit this toy. Sometimes it is best to not mention things if an issue hasn't happened yet.
LOL, you think they wait for the FBI to give them ideas, seriously ??
The only real problem here is the perverted mofucr in the FBI who thought of this.
Good job FBI...you just gave countless pedos the idea how to exploit this toy. Sometimes it is best to not mention things if an issue hasn't happened yet.
Exactly, this is pondering on paranoia
I remember when I was a kid playing with GI Joe I often did not do it naked and I have to imagine the girls playing with barbie dolls are not either.
I saw this in a store and thought that it was one of the worst ideas I have seen in a while. Then again, I am fairly paranoid. I don't like the idea of cell phones having cameras.
i honestly believe that digital cameras of any kind should be illegal for people under the age of 18.if you know what jail bait is, or that some girls look older than they really are, and finding porn is a scary thing, because how do you know they are old enough you wont go to prison for saving that img.i firmly believe that cameras of any digital kind should never be sold to kids, they need classic film because if they take a nude there parents will see it and people developing them or running the developer will see them and most likely stop them from ever hitting the internet.
You have got to be out of your mind
Camera on the street corner, camera on the subway, camera on the school bus's, camera on barbie.....two words for the FBI....BIG BROTHER!
FBI comes up with some real catches for Terrorizor and such and other times.... well they really blunder it up. In this case it feels like the FBI is just coming up with something to stay in the news or just filler to divert attention away from the real issue. Like most here I agree too much Gov involvement is a dumb thing to have. Don't matter I guess since we are speeding towards socialism imho
I think that if you have a sexual predator with your children holding a hidden camera, I think the camera is the least of your worries.
FBI, you morons.
FBI: Famous But Incompetent.
Thanks big brother, nice to know your lack of common sense is still growing strong. Seriously do they really think that girls who play with Barbie are doing it in the nude and you just gave the sicko's out there ideas. Thanks, moronic jerks. I mean WOW!
We need a Barbie Camera Czar to regulate this product and to create a special Federal taskforce to deal with this pressing concern.
And I don't suppose that a little girl would take notice that there is a new barbie in her room.
Don't ya think a little girl would be trying to pick up and play with a new toy in the room? Don't ya think?
The next story on Tom's "Governments: Too stupid for their own good?"
This whole thing seems stupid.
people who produce child porn are crazy, and the children are forced to do stuff
once a kid is in a situation like that, I am sure that a camera is the least of their worries.
I would think that a pedo does not need such a "device" to spy on little children, how many children would realize that there is a "normal" camera on a shelf filming them?
Tv´s and screens are putting chlidren at risk because they can be used to see pedophyle material in them, the same goses for paper sheets.
BANNED THE ALL
Looks like a typical Barbie to me. Nothing special about it sticks out, besides the little camera. Kids aren't notorious for their attention spans. Put that thing in the pile or with the rest of the Barbies. Trust me, a Barbie camera is far more discrete than having a plain Sony video recorder just sitting in plain view.
Note the short recording time. They would have to sneak in, set it down, start recording, and capture the video they want in 30 minutes of placing it there.
Besides, go to any spy shop and you can buy tons of better recording devices people use to spy on their wives and husbands.
Again, If you have a pedophile breaking into your home where your child dresses and undresses I think the type of item recording is least of your worries.
I think this thing is more dangerous to pedophile which is great. Assuming the kid know how to operate the thing and know when to film with it when a pedophile is around. That would be easier to put them behind bar isn't it?
Now everyone is going to make Child porn. =/