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The Barbie doll has been criticized in the past for promoting an unnatural body and gender stereotypes. Now Mattel’s attempt to give its classic toy a high-tech feature has some privacy advocates concerned.
Hello Barbie features voice-recognition technology. According to the Washington Post report, the software allows the doll to actively listen to anyone talking to it and respond back appropriately.
The doll’s software contains a memory that will allow it to store the name of the family dog, for example.
Children will likely love Hello Barbie, but privacy advocates are giving the toy the cold shoulder, instead nicknaming it “Eavesdropping Barbie.”
Privacy advocates are concerned about how the toy sends audio recordings to an online server, where they are analyzed to provide Barbie’s responses.
Mattel told the Washington Post that Hello Barbie is designed to provide highly engaging play, and that the company is committed to safety and security.
While the privacy policy is still being developed, ToyTalk, a startup that helped develop the voice-recognition technology for Mattel, says that parents would likely be required to create an online account and give permission for their children’s voices to be recorded.
The Campaign for a Commercial-Free Childhood has started a petition to put pressure on Mattel to abandon the release of Hello Barbie. Calling the doll creepy, the organization is concerned that children could be subjected to stealth advertising.
The doll is set to debut this fall.
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