FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
June 13, 2025
Contact:
Ashwin Verghese
717 676 8584
[email protected]
MEDIA ADVISORY
Statement on Mattel’s new partnership with OpenAI
Below is a statement from Fairplay Executive Director Josh Golin on Mattel’s new partnership with OpenAI.
A decade ago, Fairplay exposed how Mattel’s Hello Barbie would threaten children’s privacy, creativity, and well-being, helping to turn the doll’s release into a dud.
Fairplay Executive Director Josh Golin said: “Apparently, Mattel learned nothing from the failure of its creepy surveillance doll Hello Barbie a decade ago and is now escalating its threats to children’s privacy, safety and well-being. Children’s creativity thrives when their toys and play are powered by their own imagination, not AI. And given how often AI ‘hallucinates’ or gives harmful advice, there is no reason to believe Mattel and OpenAI’s ‘guardrails’ will actually keep kids safe.
“We call on Mattel to end this partnership with OpenAI before it harms more kids. Children’s play and Big Tech surveillance must not go hand in hand.”
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Fairplay is the leading nonprofit committed to helping children thrive in an increasingly commercialized, screen-obsessed culture, and the only organization dedicated to ending marketing to children. Fairplay works to enhance children’s well-being by eliminating the exploitative and harmful business practices of marketers and Big Tech. Learn more at https://fairplayforkids.org.