‘Video Girl’ Barbie sparks FBI pedophile warning
December 9, 2010
Lorianna De Giorgio
TORONTO STAR
The FBI is cautioning parents against the possible misuse of a new Barbie doll with video recording capabilities, warning people that the toy could make it easier for sex offenders to secretly film child pornography, ABC News reports.
The agency in an internal notice mistakenly released to the media late last month says it’s concerned about the doll’s built-in video camera concealed in her necklace and a colour LCD screen on its back, warning people that if “Video Girl” Barbie falls into the wrong hands it could spell danger for unsuspecting children, and their parents.
Sgt. John Urquhart from Washington’s King County Sheriff’s Department told ABC News’ affiliate KOMO-TV of Seattle that the FBI warning changes the way he and other officer do their job.
“When we’re doing a search warrant looking for media that a child pornographer may have used we’re gonna have to put Barbie on the list just like any other cameras (and) computers,” Urquhart told KOMO-TV.
Mattel, which manufacturers the Barbie, didn’t return requests for an interview from the Star, but said in a written statement that the FBI has not said that there have been any incidents of the doll “being used as anything other than intended.”
“Mattel products are designed with children and their best interests in mind,” the statement said. “Many of Mattel’s employees are parents themselves and we understand the importance of child safety — it is our number one priority.”