Claiming new Barbie can spy on your kids – Dagbladet.no

(Dagbladet): The company Mattel has now presented a new and modern Barbie, which kids can talk to in an entirely new way.

“Hello Barbie” speaks, responds, save the answers and can learn the name of family members, dogs and cats. A new step into the age with the use of artificial intelligence in children’s toys.

But American policy experts sound the alarm.

Speaks and remember

The new Barbie doll uses voice recognition technology, and if you press a button on her belt, so she takes up what you say. It saved so she can learn and develop conversations.

On a presentation in New York recently, so showed Mattel according to CNN how this works.

– Barbie, what should I be when I grow up?

– Well, you’ve said that you like to be on stage, so perhaps a dancer?

Here shows Barbie to a previous conversation, showing that she previously saved conversations. But activists have given “Hello Barbie” nickname “eavesdrop Barbie.”

– Worried

– If I had young children so I would be very concerned that my child’s intimate conversations with her doll is recorded and analyzed, says Angela Campbell at the University of Georgetown’s Center for Technology and Policy at the Washington Post.

Sales of Barbie dolls have plummeted while children go onto other platforms. The new Barbie doll is scheduled to arrive on the shelves in the US this fall.

– In Mattel’s presentation then ask Barbien many questions that will bring out tremendous amount of information about the child, her interests and her family. This information is of great value to advertisers and can be used for unfair marketing to children, says Campbell.

– Sinister

A group of activists in the “Campaign for a Commercial-Free Childhood” says they look at the doll that creepy.

– Children who use “Hello Barbie” speaks not only to the doll, but they speak directly to a toy chain, says director Susan Linn.

It is the company ToyTalk behind the technology, and they say they are still working on developing privacy. Probably so parents will need to download an app and confirm that it is taken admission of their children.

– Mattel concerned with security and privacy, and “Hello Barbie” is in compliance with current government standards, according to a statement from Mattel.