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Popular Toy Threat to National Security
Posted by #3 Ben G at 01-13-1999 12:00 AM
Is your Furby selling government secrets?
According to the NSA, Furby, that popular owl-looking thing that's really damn
expensive, is a threat to national security.
WASHINGTON (CNN) -- Can the cute, popular toy Furby be a threat to national
security? The government thinks so, and has banned it from National Security
Agency premises in Maryland.
Furby is embedded with a computer chip that allows it to record words. Because
of that ability, NSA officials were worried "that people would take them home
and they'd start talking classified,"one Capitol Hill source told The
Washington Post.
In a warning to employees, the NSA said, "Personally owned photographic,
video and audio recording equipment are prohibited items. This includes toys,
such as 'Furbys,' with built-in recorders that repeat the audio with
synthesized sound to mimic the original signal."
"We are prohibited from introducing these items into NSA spaces. Those who
have should contact their Staff Security Office for guidance," a memo said.
Furby resembles an owl, with tufts of hair between its huge pink ears."
-Associated Press
When asked how he/she/it responded to the allegations that it's a threat to
national security, Furby replied "Kah mee-mee noo-loo", which roughly
translates to "Me very happy." No replies.
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