Why Were Furbies Banned? The Surprising History of a Controversial Toy

Remember those fuzzy, big-eyed creatures that took the world by storm in the late 90s? Furbies weren’t just another toy fad—they became the center of genuine national security concerns, sparked widespread rumors, and even found themselves banned from government facilities. As someone who watched the Furby phenomenon unfold (and may have hidden my sister’s Furby after it wouldn’t stop chattering at 3 AM), I’ve always been fascinated by how these electronic pets managed to cause so much controversy. Let’s dive into the surprising reasons why Furbies were banned and separate fact from fiction in this unusual chapter of toy history.

The NSA Ban: When Furbies Became a National Security Threat

In January 1999, the National Security Agency (NSA) made a decision that seemed almost comical at first glance—they officially banned Furbies from their headquarters in Fort Meade, Maryland. But why were Furbies banned from a high-security government facility? The answer reveals much about both the technology of the time and the unique features that made Furbies so revolutionary.

The NSA’s concern stemmed from a fundamental misunderstanding about how Furbies worked. These interactive toys appeared to “learn” English over time, starting with their native “Furbish” language and gradually incorporating more English phrases. This led intelligence officials to believe Furbies contained sophisticated recording devices that could capture and repeat classified conversations.

NSA headquarters at Fort Meade where Furbies were prohibited in 1999

An internal NSA memo from the time stated: “Personally owned photographic, video, and audio recording equipment are prohibited items. This includes toys, such as ‘Furbies,’ with built-in recorders that repeat the audio with synthesized sound to mimic the original signal.” The ban quickly made headlines, turning these cuddly toys into unlikely espionage suspects.

The reality, however, was quite different from the NSA’s fears. Tiger Electronics, the manufacturer of Furby, quickly issued a statement clarifying that Furbies did not contain actual recording devices. As Roger Shiffman, president of Tiger Electronics, explained: “The NSA did not do their homework. Furby is not a spy.”

Instead of recording and repeating phrases, Furbies were pre-programmed with about 200 words in both English and their fictional “Furbish” language. The toy was designed to gradually use more English phrases over time, creating the illusion that it was learning from its owner. This sophisticated programming for a 1998 toy was impressive enough to fool even government security experts.

Beyond the NSA: Other Places Where Furbies Were Banned

The NSA wasn’t alone in their concerns about these chatty electronic pets. The ban quickly spread to other security-conscious organizations and settings. Here’s where else Furbies found themselves unwelcome:

Furbies faced bans in multiple high-security and sensitive environments

Dr. Kok-Swang Tan, who helped conduct research on whether Furbies interfered with medical equipment, recalled getting “some strange looks from colleagues who wondered why I was playing with a Furby in front of medical devices.” His research ultimately found no evidence that Furbies posed any risk to hospital equipment.

The Airline Controversy

The ban on Furbies during flights represents an interesting chapter in the toy’s controversial history. The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) had concerns about portable electronic devices interfering with aircraft navigation systems. Furbies, with their inability to be turned off (they could only be silenced by removing the batteries), were particularly problematic.

Passengers with Furbies were often required to remove the batteries before takeoff or keep the toy powered down during critical flight phases. While no plane control issues were ever attributed to a Furby, the precautionary measure remained in place for some time, adding to the toy’s reputation as a potentially disruptive technology.

Airlines required Furbies to have batteries removed during flights due to electronic interference concerns

Understanding Furby Technology: Why the Confusion?

To appreciate why Furbies caused such security concerns, it’s important to understand what made these toys so revolutionary for their time. Launched in 1998, Furby was one of the first mass-market toys to use rudimentary artificial intelligence and sophisticated electronics accessible to children.

The internal components of a Furby reveal sophisticated technology for a 1990s toy, but no recording devices

The confusion about Furbies’ capabilities stemmed from how advanced they seemed for the time. In 1998, the concept of a toy that appeared to learn and adapt was novel enough that even government officials misunderstood the technology. Tiger Electronics estimated they spent around $5 million developing the first Furby, creating a toy that was far more sophisticated than anything that had come before it.

Dave Hampton, Richard Levy, and Caleb Chung, the creators of Furby, had spent nearly two years designing a toy that would seem alive to children. The result was so convincing that adults in positions of authority believed these furry companions could be security threats. As Hampton later explained, “We never anticipated that Furby would be seen as a spy device. It was designed to be a friend, not to cause international incidents.”

The Cultural Impact of the Furby Ban

The NSA ban didn’t hurt Furby sales—if anything, it enhanced the toy’s mystique and appeal. The controversy catapulted Furbies from popular toy to cultural phenomenon. Parents who might have dismissed Furbies as just another electronic pet suddenly wondered if there was more to these chatty creatures than met the eye.

The 1998 holiday shopping season saw unprecedented demand for Furbies despite security concerns

In the first three years after their release, over 40 million Furbies were sold worldwide. The NSA ban occurred right in the middle of this sales boom, and the publicity likely contributed to the toy’s success. Parents waited in hour-long lines to purchase Furbies, and the toys often sold for many times their retail price of $35 on the secondary market.

The Furby ban also entered popular culture, becoming a punchline on late-night talk shows and even appearing in storylines on television sitcoms. The idea that a children’s toy could be considered a national security threat struck many as absurdly humorous, though it also reflected genuine concerns about emerging technologies in everyday objects.

Outlandish Furby Rumors

Beyond the recording capabilities, the Furby ban spawned a variety of wild rumors about what these toys could do. Tiger Electronics president Roger Shiffman noted they had to dispel claims including:

These exaggerated capabilities attributed to Furbies reflected a broader societal anxiety about increasingly sophisticated technology becoming accessible to children. In many ways, the Furby ban foreshadowed later concerns about smart devices, voice assistants, and privacy in the digital age.

The evolution of Furby designs from 1998 to present day

A Brief History of the Furby Phenomenon

To fully understand the context of the Furby bans, it helps to know how these toys became such a sensation in the first place:

Furby creators Dave Hampton, Richard Levy, and Caleb Chung with early prototypes

Each new generation of Furby has introduced more sophisticated technology, though ironically, modern Furbies with actual Bluetooth connectivity and app integration haven’t faced the same security concerns as their simpler 1998 predecessors. According to Hasbro, the company has sold more than 58 million Furby toys prior to the newest generation released in 2023.

The Legacy of the Furby Ban

The Furby ban represents an interesting moment in the history of toys, technology, and security concerns. What seems almost comical in retrospect—government agencies banning a children’s toy—actually foreshadowed many of the privacy and security discussions we have today about smart devices in our homes.

While Furbies weren’t actually recording sensitive information in 1998, the concerns about what technology could do were not entirely misplaced. Today, we live with devices that genuinely do listen to our conversations—from smartphones to smart speakers—making the Furby panic seem less like an overreaction and more like an early warning of things to come.

Furbies have become sought-after collectibles, with original banned models particularly valuable

The story of why Furbies were banned tells us as much about our relationship with technology as it does about the toys themselves. It reminds us that innovations that seem simple or even silly can sometimes raise profound questions about privacy, security, and the increasingly blurred line between the toys we give our children and the sophisticated technologies that shape our world.