Buzz
In the late 90s, Furbys were everywhere—1998 saw a staggering 27 million units sold—and they still have a loyal fan base today. But did you know these little creatures were once considered a threat to national security?
The secret to the dolls’ massive appeal was their advanced robotic design. With complex programming, they could interact not only with their owners but with other Furbys, a feature never seen before, showcased perfectly in this vintage ad:
Despite rumors suggesting otherwise, these chatty toys couldn’t record or repeat what their owners said. As a spokesperson clarified, “While Furby is an innovative toy, it doesn’t capture or imitate voices.”
Apparently, the U.S. intelligence community wasn’t informed. In 1999, Furbys were banned by the NSA, Norfolk Naval Shipyard, and the Pentagon. Officials reportedly feared that an employee might bring one to work, where it could eavesdrop on confidential discussions and “start talking classified.”
Tiger Electronics, a division of Hasbro, quickly responded to clear their product's reputation. Roger Shiffman, the president of TE, stated that the government’s concerns were based on “comical but mistaken rumors” and insisted, “The NSA didn’t do their research. Furby is not a spy.”
Other outlandish accusations that Shiffman’s team had to debunk included claims that “the current Furby could launch the space shuttle” and that “one woman is absolutely convinced her Furby sings Italian operas.”
Furby was also accused of interfering with medical equipment, a myth disproven by Canadian health experts in 2000. Dr. Kok-Swang Tan, who assisted with the study, remembers receiving “odd stares from colleagues who wondered why I was playing with a Furby next to medical devices.”
