The Mattel corporation has introduced the Hello Barbie ™ interactive doll that not only talks, it listens. And records your kid’s conversation with her. And connects to Wi-Fi so her recordings can be analyzed by the ToyTalk ™ voice-recognition software, and the information shared with parents or … who knows. What could possibly go wrong?
Plenty, say Matt Jakubowski of LookingGlass Cyber Solutions and Andrew Browne of Lavasoft’s malware lab. Like Wi-Fi baby monitors, the dolls can be hacked by 3rd parties, and we’re not talking about Barbie’s Princess Tea Parties here, but persons of bad intent. ToyTalk says that’s not so, that Barbie’s software cannot be hacked. Frankly, we will reserve judgement until we can ask Hello Barbie ™ about this in person.
The Mattel corporation has introduced the Hello Barbie ™ interactive doll that not only talks, it listens. And records your kid’s conversation with her. And connects to WiFi so her recordings can be analyzed by the ToyTalk ™ voice-recognition software and the information shared with parents or … who knows. What could possibly go wrong?
So now girls will have a role model of anatomically impossible proportions who will teach them fashion consumerism and will eavesdrop on them, too. Talk about your multi-tasking. Welcome to the 21st Century, female offspring!
More:
“Privacy advocates try to keep ‘creepy,’ ‘eavesdropping’ Hello Barbie from hitting shelves,” Sarah Halzack, Washington Post
“Big Brother Has Enormous Plastic Boobs: ‘Hello Barbie’ Can Spy on Kids,” Ellie Shechet, Jezebel
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Barbara Millicent Roberts (aka “Barbie Doll“) is sporting a new look: pink hair, leopard-skin tights and fresh tattoos. While the hair and tights seem questionable choices for a 52-year-old, it’s the tats that have caused consternation:
“Tattooed Barbie Sparks Controversy, Media Frenzy,” Christina Cheddar Berk, CNBC
“Barbie dons new ‘punk’ look: Mattel defends doll as parents take aim at tattoos and bad-girl image,” Daniel Prendergast and Tracy Connor, New York Daily News
Each summer, Girls Rock! DC volunteers teach girls (ages 8-18) Rock and Hip-Hop music skills in an intensive week-long summer camp. At Saturday’s concert, girl bands and DJs will perform their original tunes for the cheering crowd. Much better than watching those same old Saturday morning cartoons.
More about the national Rock ‘n’ Roll Camp for Girls Alliance here — they put the “amp” in “camp.”