#The Technology Chronicles » Feed The Technology Chronicles » Comments Feed Are you a candidate for cord cutting? Take this test. A man’s fake Facebook suicide post gets him detained The Technology Chronicles Privacy advocates’ new enemy: Barbie By Marcus Gilmer on March 13, 2015 at 11:00 AM * * * * * * * — * Print * * Hello Barbie is displayed at the Mattel showroom at the North American International Toy Fair, Saturday, Feb. 14, 2015 in New York. Mattel, in partnership with San Francisco startup ToyTalk, will release the Internet-connected version of the doll that has real conversations with kids in late 2015. (AP Photo/Mark Lennihan) * Mattel introduced many Barbies with dark complexions in the 60s and 70s but they weren't genuinely African-American because their heads were made with the molds of the Caucasian dolls. * The 1990 launch of Oreo Fun Barbie was met with outrage since Oreo is a derogatory term in the African-American community. * Many parents thought Midge, Barbie's pregnant best friend, sent the wrong message because she didn't come with a spouse. * Spin the dial on Growing Up Skipper's back and her figure matures. The point was to teach kids about puberty but parents didn't like this doll who grew breasts. * Sleepytime Gal Barbie came with a dieting book. One of the pages supposedly read, "Don't eat." * Teen Talk Barbie said 270 phrases, including "Math class is tough." * Share a Smile Becky, who came in a pink wheelchair, was a thoughtful idea, but her chair didn't fit into the elevator of the Barbie Dream House. * In 2003 Saudi Arabia banned the sale of Barbie and introduced Fulla, designed to be more acceptable to the Middle Eastern market. * In 2009 Mattel released Totally Tattoo Barbie, which came with tattoos to stick on the plastic body, including a tramp stamp to put on the doll's lower back. * Black Canary Barbie was panned for looking downright trashy. * The FBI issued a warning in 2010 that the video camera in Barbie Video Girl's chest could be used to produce child pornography, although there was "no reported evidence that the doll had been used in any way other than intended." * Tokidoki's edgy look caused a stir—especially among straight-laced parents trying to raise kids who never step inside a tattoo parlor. * Barbie donned a bikini and struck an unapologetic pose for the 2014 50th anniversary edition of the 'Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Issue.' * Girl Scouts Barbie hit store shelves in 2014 and many were outraged by the partnership. The Campaign for a Commercial-Free Childhood wrote in a statement: "Partnering with Mattel undermines[the Girl Scouts] vital mission to “build girls of courage, confidence, and character... While Mattel and the Barbie brand benefit enormously from GSUSA’s endorsement, the partnership harms girls. In addition to encouraging sexualization, the Barbie brand idealizes a dangerously impossible body type.” * As part of its Dolls of the World line, Mattel toy company introduced a new Mexico Barbie in 2013. The doll with long, dark, wavy hair dons a frilly fiesta dress trimmed with lace and colorful ribbons. She comes with a pet chihuahua tucked under her arm and her own passport. some argued the passport was offensive in light of the political immigration debate. 'Including a passport isolates the Mexican, Indian and other cultural Barbies instead of promoting an inclusive America,' Evette Dionne wrote on ClutchMagOnline.com. 'A native-country flag would’ve been a reasonable alternative, but Mattel seems to be selling controversy this month.' * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * 1967-francie * oreo-barbie * pregnant_barbie * skipper * sleepytime-gal-barbie-diet-controversy-17_8cshr_22975 * teentalk-barbie * share-a-smile-becky * fulla-1 * barbie-tats2 * black-canary-barbie-doll-thumb * barbie_video_girl_2 * tokidoki-barbie * Barbie-Sports Illustrated * pmat1-18892548enh-z6 * mexico-barbie * * Controversial Barbie dolls Image 1 of 16 Image 1 of 16 | Controversial Barbie dolls Mark Lennihan / Associated Press Hello Barbie is displayed at the Mattel showroom at the North American International Toy Fair, Saturday, Feb. 14, 2015 in New York. Mattel, in partnership with San Francisco startup ToyTalk, will release the Internet-connected version of the doll that has real conversations with kids in late 2015. (AP Photo/Mark Lennihan) Image 1 of 16 - Controversial Barbie dolls Hello Barbie is displayed at the Mattel showroom at the North American International Toy Fair, Saturday, Feb. 14, 2015 in New York. Mattel, in partnership with San Francisco startup ToyTalk, will release the Internet-connected version of the doll that has real conversations with kids in late 2015. (AP Photo/Mark Lennihan) Hello Barbie is displayed at the Mattel showroom at the North American...International Toy Fair, Saturday, Feb. 14, 2015 in New York. Mattel,...in partnership with San Francisco startup ToyTalk, will release the ...Internet-connected version of the doll that has real conversations...with kids in late 2015. (AP Photo/Mark Lennihan) Image 2 of 16 | Controversial Barbie dolls Mattel introduced many Barbies with dark complexions in the 60s and 70s but they weren't genuinely African-American because their heads were made with the molds of the Caucasian dolls. Image 2 of 16 - Controversial Barbie dolls Mattel introduced many Barbies with dark complexions in the 60s and 70s but they weren't genuinely African-American because their heads were made with the molds of the Caucasian dolls. Mattel introduced many Barbies with dark complexions in the 60s and...70s but they weren't genuinely African-American because their heads...were made with the molds of the Caucasian dolls. Image 3 of 16 | Controversial Barbie dolls The 1990 launch of Oreo Fun Barbie was met with outrage since Oreo is a derogatory term in the African-American community. Image 3 of 16 - Controversial Barbie dolls The 1990 launch of Oreo Fun Barbie was met with outrage since Oreo is a derogatory term in the African-American community. The 1990 launch of Oreo Fun Barbie was met with outrage since Oreo is...a derogatory term in the African-American community. Image 4 of 16 | Controversial Barbie dolls Many parents thought Midge, Barbie's pregnant best friend, sent the wrong message because she didn't come with a spouse. Image 4 of 16 - Controversial Barbie dolls Many parents thought Midge, Barbie's pregnant best friend, sent the wrong message because she didn't come with a spouse. Many parents thought Midge, Barbie's pregnant best friend, sent the...wrong message because she didn't come with a spouse. Image 5 of 16 | Controversial Barbie dolls Spin the dial on Growing Up Skipper's back and her figure matures. The point was to teach kids about puberty but parents didn't like this doll who grew breasts. Image 5 of 16 - Controversial Barbie dolls Spin the dial on Growing Up Skipper's back and her figure matures. The point was to teach kids about puberty but parents didn't like this doll who grew breasts. Spin the dial on Growing Up Skipper's back and her figure matures. The...point was to teach kids about puberty but parents didn't like this...doll who grew breasts. Image 6 of 16 | Controversial Barbie dolls Sleepytime Gal Barbie came with a dieting book. One of the pages supposedly read, "Don't eat." Image 6 of 16 - Controversial Barbie dolls Sleepytime Gal Barbie came with a dieting book. One of the pages supposedly read, "Don't eat." Sleepytime Gal Barbie came with a dieting book. One of the pages...supposedly read, "Don't eat." Image 7 of 16 | Controversial Barbie dolls Teen Talk Barbie said 270 phrases, including "Math class is tough." Image 7 of 16 - Controversial Barbie dolls Teen Talk Barbie said 270 phrases, including "Math class is tough." Teen Talk Barbie said 270 phrases, including "Math class is tough." Image 8 of 16 | Controversial Barbie dolls Share a Smile Becky, who came in a pink wheelchair, was a thoughtful idea, but her chair didn't fit into the elevator of the Barbie Dream House. Image 8 of 16 - Controversial Barbie dolls Share a Smile Becky, who came in a pink wheelchair, was a thoughtful idea, but her chair didn't fit into the elevator of the Barbie Dream House. Share a Smile Becky, who came in a pink wheelchair, was a thoughtful...idea, but her chair didn't fit into the elevator of the Barbie Dream...House. Image 9 of 16 | Controversial Barbie dolls In 2003 Saudi Arabia banned the sale of Barbie and introduced Fulla, designed to be more acceptable to the Middle Eastern market. Image 9 of 16 - Controversial Barbie dolls In 2003 Saudi Arabia banned the sale of Barbie and introduced Fulla, designed to be more acceptable to the Middle Eastern market. In 2003 Saudi Arabia banned the sale of Barbie and introduced Fulla,...designed to be more acceptable to the Middle Eastern market. Image 10 of 16 | Controversial Barbie dolls In 2009 Mattel released Totally Tattoo Barbie, which came with tattoos to stick on the plastic body, including a tramp stamp to put on the doll's lower back. Image 10 of 16 - Controversial Barbie dolls In 2009 Mattel released Totally Tattoo Barbie, which came with tattoos to stick on the plastic body, including a tramp stamp to put on the doll's lower back. In 2009 Mattel released Totally Tattoo Barbie, which came with tattoos...to stick on the plastic body, including a tramp stamp to put on the...doll's lower back. Image 11 of 16 | Controversial Barbie dolls Black Canary Barbie was panned for looking downright trashy. Image 11 of 16 - Controversial Barbie dolls Black Canary Barbie was panned for looking downright trashy. Black Canary Barbie was panned for looking downright trashy. Image 12 of 16 | Controversial Barbie dolls The FBI issued a warning in 2010 that the video camera in Barbie Video Girl's chest could be used to produce child pornography, although there was "no reported evidence that the doll had been used in any way other than intended." Image 12 of 16 - Controversial Barbie dolls The FBI issued a warning in 2010 that the video camera in Barbie Video Girl's chest could be used to produce child pornography, although there was "no reported evidence that the doll had been used in any way other than intended." The FBI issued a warning in 2010 that the video camera in Barbie Video...Girl's chest could be used to produce child pornography, although...there was "no reported evidence that the doll had been used in any way...other than intended." Image 13 of 16 | Controversial Barbie dolls Tokidoki's edgy look caused a stir—especially among straight-laced parents trying to raise kids who never step inside a tattoo parlor. Image 13 of 16 - Controversial Barbie dolls Tokidoki's edgy look caused a stir—especially among straight-laced parents trying to raise kids who never step inside a tattoo parlor. Tokidoki's edgy look caused a stir—especially among straight-laced...parents trying to raise kids who never step inside a tattoo parlor. Image 14 of 16 | Controversial Barbie dolls Uncredited / AP / Sports Illustrated Barbie donned a bikini and struck an unapologetic pose for the 2014 50th anniversary edition of the 'Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Issue.' Image 14 of 16 - Controversial Barbie dolls Barbie donned a bikini and struck an unapologetic pose for the 2014 50th anniversary edition of the 'Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Issue.' Barbie donned a bikini and struck an unapologetic pose for the 2014...50th anniversary edition of the 'Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Issue.' Image 15 of 16 | Controversial Barbie dolls Mattel Girl Scouts Barbie hit store shelves in 2014 and many were outraged by the partnership. The Campaign for a Commercial-Free Childhood wrote in a statement: "Partnering with Mattel undermines[the Girl Scouts] vital mission to “build girls of courage, confidence, and character... While Mattel and the Barbie brand benefit enormously from GSUSA’s endorsement, the partnership harms girls. In addition to encouraging sexualization, the Barbie brand idealizes a dangerously impossible body type.” Image 15 of 16 - Controversial Barbie dolls Girl Scouts Barbie hit store shelves in 2014 and many were outraged by the partnership. The Campaign for a Commercial-Free Childhood wrote in a statement: "Partnering with Mattel undermines[the Girl Scouts] vital mission to “build girls of courage, confidence, and character... While Mattel and the Barbie brand benefit enormously from GSUSA’s endorsement, the partnership harms girls. In addition to encouraging sexualization, the Barbie brand idealizes a dangerously impossible body type.” Girl Scouts Barbie hit store shelves in 2014 and many were outraged by...the partnership. The Campaign for a Commercial-Free Childhood wrote in...a statement: "Partnering with Mattel undermines[the Girl Scouts] vital...mission to “build girls of courage, confidence, and character... While Mattel and the Barbie brand benefit enormously from GSUSA’s...endorsement, the partnership harms girls. In addition to encouraging...sexualization, the Barbie brand idealizes a dangerously impossible...body type.” Image 16 of 16 | Controversial Barbie dolls As part of its Dolls of the World line, Mattel toy company introduced a new Mexico Barbie in 2013. The doll with long, dark, wavy hair dons a frilly fiesta dress trimmed with lace and colorful ribbons. She comes with a pet chihuahua tucked under her arm and her own passport. some argued the passport was offensive in light of the political immigration debate. 'Including a passport isolates the Mexican, Indian and other cultural Barbies instead of promoting an inclusive America,' Evette Dionne wrote on ClutchMagOnline.com. 'A native-country flag would’ve been a reasonable alternative, but Mattel seems to be selling controversy this month.' Image 16 of 16 - Controversial Barbie dolls As part of its Dolls of the World line, Mattel toy company introduced a new Mexico Barbie in 2013. The doll with long, dark, wavy hair dons a frilly fiesta dress trimmed with lace and colorful ribbons. She comes with a pet chihuahua tucked under her arm and her own passport. some argued the passport was offensive in light of the political immigration debate. 'Including a passport isolates the Mexican, Indian and other cultural Barbies instead of promoting an inclusive America,' Evette Dionne wrote on ClutchMagOnline.com. 'A native-country flag would’ve been a reasonable alternative, but Mattel seems to be selling controversy this month.' As part of its Dolls of the World line, Mattel toy company introduced...a new Mexico Barbie in 2013. The doll with long, dark, wavy hair dons...a frilly fiesta dress trimmed with lace and colorful ribbons. She...comes with a pet chihuahua tucked under her arm and her own passport....some argued the passport was offensive in light of the political...immigration debate. 'Including a passport isolates the Mexican, Indian...and other cultural Barbies instead of promoting an inclusive America,'...Evette Dionne wrote on ClutchMagOnline.com. 'A native-country flag...would’ve been a reasonable alternative, but Mattel seems to be...selling controversy this month.' In a post-Edward Snowden world, it’s understandable that some parents are more alert to technological objects and advances that could infringe upon the privacy of their lives and the lives of their children. Which is why one group is upset with toymaker Mattel and SF-based company ToyTalk over their new “Hello, Barbie” doll. Using technology developed by ToyTalk, this Barbie is being hailed as the first fully interactive, WiFi-enabled Barbie that can carry on a full conversation with children. If that doesn’t creep you out, here’s how it will work, according to the Washington Post: Hello Barbie works by recording a child’s voice with an embedded microphone that is triggered by pressing a button on the doll. As the doll “listens,” audio recordings travel over the Web to a server where the snippets of speech are recognized and processed. That information is used to help form Hello Barbie’s responses. While that may not seem too ominous, this part from the Post’s story does: “Mattel says Hello Barbie will offer children a highly engaging play experience, in part because the doll will learn about its users over time.” And to give you an idea of what kind of engaging conversation the doll will be capable of, a demonstration of the toy led Barbie to offer this suggestion: “Well, you told me you like being onstage. So maybe a dancer? Or a politician? Or how about a dancing politician?” Cutting insight for all children of the world. ToyTalk is responsible for the technology that enables Barbie to essentially talk back to your children and chief exec Oren Jacob is on the defensive, saying, “The data is never used for anything to do with marketing or publicity or any of that stuff. Not at all.” “Stuff” presumably being code for “recording all the innermost thoughts that your child dares to speak out loud in the presence of the doll.” Mattel is also promising parents that there’s nothing nefarious going on; a spokeswoman told Huffington Post: “Mattel is committed to safety and security, and Hello Barbie conforms to applicable government standards, including the Children’s Online Privacy Protection Act. Additionally, Hello Barbie’s technology features a number of safeguards to ensure that stored data is secure and can’t be accessed by unauthorized users.” The Campaign For a Commercial-Free Childhood has posted a petition to prevent the toy (with a suggested retail price of $74.99) from hitting shelves as planned this fall. They note ToyTalk’s current privacy policy, which notes that the company “may use, store, process and transcribe Recordings in order to provide and maintain the Service, to perform, test or improve speech recognition technology and artificial intelligence algorithms, or for other research and development and data analysis purposes.” ToyTalk’s privacy policy states the company won’t use any recordings to reach out to those children and outlines that only people over the age of 13 will be able to set up accounts on the doll. Jacob insists that parents will be able to receive emailed updates about all of the sound files their child shares with the doll. Still, the CCFC remains skeptical, saying, “that won’t necessarily protect children from exploitation.” IFRAME: //www.youtube.com/embed/RJMvmVCwoNM Categories: Privacy, toys, Uncategorized Tags: section business Marcus Gilmer * * View Comments Follow Marcus [default-avatar.png] Marcus Gilmer Blog Search Keyword search across all the entries in this blog. Keyword_____________ Go Recent Posts * [aspect32.png] FILE - In this Tuesday, Dec. 16, 2014 file photo, a man leaves the headquarters of Uber in San Francisco. Drivers for Uber and other companies most often are considered independent contractors who are self-employed. Rather than receive a W-2, they’ll get a 1099 form reporting their income. (AP Photo/Eric Risberg, File) Your next Uber driver might have a criminal record * [aspect32.png] Steve Jobs hologram stars in new Broadway musical * [aspect32.png] A screenshot of Facebook Stadium. Facebook launches live sports hub, Sports Stadium * [aspect32.png] A pink Lyft mustache sits on the dashboard of Carlo Garibay's car in San Francisco, California, on Tuesday, Dec. 29, 2015. Lyft helps smartphone-less elderly get to doctor’s appointments * [aspect32.png] A man wearing Google Glass waits for the Google I/O 2015 keynote presentation in San Francisco, Thursday, May 28, 2015. (AP Photo/Jeff Chiu) Google I/O moves from San Francisco to Mountain View this May Most Popular * 1 Bay Area storm not living up to hype, but follow-up front could * 2 Best places to stop for food on the drive to Tahoe * 3 Sugar Bowl snowboarder who rode avalanche may face prosecution * 4 Gwyneth Paltrow and Jessica Simpson both wear bikinis in... * 5 Here's how much money you need to make to buy a home in San... * 6 The most popular bar in California is a divey brew pub in San... * 7 S.F. Ballet opening night gala * 8 Bernal Heights Contemporary reflects neighborhood’s renaissance * 9 Denise Richards serves ex-husband Charlie Sheen with $1... * 10 College Football Playoff’s greedy move to cable is backfiring Top Videos [ndn_video_blank.png] Twitter Feed Tweets from @SFGate/tech-writers Browse previous blog posts by month and year of entry. You'll see all the posts for that time period. Select Month Show Earlier Browse previous blog posts by month and year of entry. You'll see all the posts for that time period. Send to Email Address ____________________ Your Name ____________________ Your Email Address ____________________ _________________________ loading Send Email Cancel Post was not sent - check your email addresses! Email check failed, please try again Sorry, your blog cannot share posts by email.