'Eavesdropping' Barbie Scares Privacy Groups

By Sky News US Team

A new Barbie doll that can record everything said by its owner and make chatty responses has privacy advocates crying foul.

They have launched a petition urging toy-maker Mattel to scrap the "creepy" product, which uses an embedded microphone and voice-recognition software to "listen".

With one press of a button on its belt buckle, wifi-connected Hello Barbie will transmit audio to a cloud server where speech is recorded and processed.

Mattel says the doll will keep learning about its owner, remembering the name of the child's pet, for example, offering a more engaging play experience.

At a recent New York toy fair, a Mattel representative told Hello Barbie she liked being on stage.

When the representative later asked the doll what she should do when she grew up, it responded: "Well, you told me you like being onstage. So maybe a dancer?"

Mattel and ToyTalk, the San Francisco-based start-up that developed Hello Barbie's software, say privacy is their main concern.

But advocacy groups are labelling the toy "eavesdropping" Barbie.

Susan Linn, director of Campaign for a Commercial-Free Childhood, said in a statement:  "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.

"It's creepy - and creates a host of dangers for children and families."

The group says such a toy could be used to stealthily encourage children to pester their parents for more Barbie products.

But Mattel says parents can choose to receive regular emails containing the audio files of their child's interactions with Hello Barbie.

The toy is due to hit stores this autumn and will retail at $74.99 (£50).

Mattel has been struggling to revive slumping sales of its flagship brand, which debuted in 1959.

Young girls have increasingly turned to electronic toys, tablets and toys based on popular films, such as Elsa from Frozen.

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