Speak Up to Stop Mattel's Eavesdropping "Hello Barbie"
I'm proud to be part of Campaign for a Commercial-Free Childhood's (CCFC) demand that toymaker Mattel halt marketing and production of its planned "Hello Barbie." The Wi-Fi-connected doll uses an embedded microphone to record children's voices—and other nearby conversations—before transmitting them over the Internet to cloud servers.
Mattel's technology partner ToyTalk then processes the audio with voice-recognition software. During its Toy Fair 2015 product demonstration, Mattel said it will use this information to "push data" back to children through Barbie's built-in speaker.
"Kids using 'Hello Barbie' aren’t only talking to a doll, they are talking directly to a toy conglomerate whose only interest in them is financial," said Dr. Susan Linn, CCFC’s Executive Director. "It's creepy—and creates a host of dangers for children and families.”