Video: Fox News DS is a target for Child Molesters

[Zeus]

Here is the slightly old video clip of Fox News news coverage which views how the DS's Pictochat software can be a gateway for potential child molesters. A police offer believes that parents must understand that the DS is not just a games machine, it is a communication tool also.

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[M pro]

I think this reporters on crack

If you’re talking to a pedo on your DS you have more things to worry about!
As he will have to be pretty close to you to be able to be in range

Like in your house…. Walking up to your room

[Dpa]

rofl, a stranger driving his car next to yours just to pictochat to kids in the back, yeah right, likely to happen.

[sigma8]

I can't watch this with sound since until later, but I wonder if the reporter makes any mention of how Nintendo is well ahead of the competition in terms of safeguarding kids with the Nintendo Wi-Fi connection..

On Xbox live, any pedo can login, join in any number of online games with perfect strangers, and act like a 16 year old "HEY A/S/L LOL!1!"

With Nintendo Wi-fi, chat is generally not allowed unless you have a friend code. Many have actually complained about how hard it is to get non-anonymous matches going on games like Metroid Hunters, where iirc, anonymous matches are limited to some stock taunts. In Animal Crossing, it would be impossible to suddenly invade a kids little private Animal Crossing dreamworld without their friend code.

Pictochat is less secure, but as another poster pointed out, its range is like 20 feet ><

Parents of course should use all due caution when letting their kids use anything that can potentially network the intarweb.

[sigma8]

Oh I forgot to add that this was Fox news, so we shouldn't expect them to show much common sense.

[Silversand]

Oh I forgot to add that this was Fox news, so we shouldn't expect them to show much common sense.Whats everyone's problem with this news report? If your kid is at the airport with a DS... don't you think a parent would want to know that a predator 300 feet away could talk to your child? I understand that this isn't a huge problem since Pictochat is not online, but still its good for parents to know. How many of you bashing this are parents?

[Ichinisan]

Oh I forgot to add that this was Fox news, so we shouldn't expect them to show much common sense.
I can't believe I have to repeat myself every time this story comes up. The news was a LOCAL STATION that had nothing to do with Fox News. The local station is a Fox AFFILIATE, meaning that they show the same prime-time programming.

Fox affiliates play American Idol, 24, House M.D., Family Guy, American Dad, Prison Break, etc.

Being a Fox affiliate has nothing to do with the news stories. Like most local news agencies, they are always eager for fear-inducing stories to hook viewers and their lack of professionalism leads to stories like this.

From the "Playstation Porn-able" article:
http://forums.maxconsole.net/showthread.php?t=35258&page=2
http://forums.maxconsole.net/showpost.php?p=285754&postcount=19

What's with all the Fox-bashing? Are you all too stupid to tell the difference between the REAL Fox News and a local Fox affiliate?

This "channel 29" is a LOCAL STATION that pays for Fox television programming ( House, 24, Family Guy, American Dad, The Simpsons, Malcolm in the Middle, American Idol, The Surreal Life, The Simple Life, Vanished, Prison Break, Trading Spouses, Standoff, The War at Home, America's Most Wanted, The OC, King of the Hill, etc). This is their only relation to Fox. They have NOTHING TO DO with Fox News.

Understand?

This is not the first local news station to make a retarded story about sexual predators and portable game devices. Only local news stations are able to get away with sensationalist stories like this one. A real national/network news agency would not air such garbage.

[So-Unreal]

Whats everyone's problem with this news report? If your kid is at the airport with a DS... don't you think a parent would want to know that a predator 300 feet away could talk to your child? I understand that this isn't a huge problem since Pictochat is not online, but still its good for parents to know. How many of you bashing this are parents?

I am.... and have you use a DS online before or even messed with Pictochat before? And I don't think the DS will work even 50 feet away but i could be supa wrong.

[Ichinisan]

Whats everyone's problem with this news report? If your kid is at the airport with a DS... don't you think a parent would want to know that a predator 300 feet away could talk to your child? I understand that this isn't a huge problem since Pictochat is not online, but still its good for parents to know. How many of you bashing this are parents?
It's a ridiculous made-up scenario. Pictochat is far more limited than face-to-face conversation.

Pictochat is one of the most useless features of the DS. I have never EVER found nor heard of a public place where one could find strangers to Pictochat with except the Penny-Arcade Expo (a gamer event). The likelihood that a child with a DS in a public place would be BORED enough to launch Pictochat on the distant chance of finding another is SLIM TO NONE. That child would almost surely be PLAYING A GAME.

[Knocks]

LOOOOOOOOOOOOL!!!

A stranger can tailgate your car and use a stylus to write messages simultaneously! He should work for the CIA with such fantastic multitasking abilities.

[Happsai]

I just loved the intro.
"IT'S GOT LOTS OF GRAPHICS"!

That's why Nintendo DS is so great.... because it has lots of graphics.
...makes sense... :rolleyes:
Do kids these days even know what the word "graphic" means?

Oh, and them showing that the DS worked at 300' rather than 65', that's GOOD NEWS... not scary.

[SteveNZ]

Does anyone outside of Japan use Picochat? Didn't think so.

It does NOT require being online, nor does it require friend codes. The required combination of events that would need to occur for this to happen is so unlikely as to be a complete waste of time reporting. Did you know a complete stranger could phone you up on your telephone and TALK to you!? Quick, better stop kids using telephones! Seems similarly nonsensical to me. I'd hope that they'd give the kids more credit than that.

[Silversand]

I am.... and have you use a DS online before or even messed with Pictochat before? And I don't think the DS will work even 50 feet away but i could be supa wrong.The DS works very far if you're in an open area with nothing to degrade the signal. I have played the DS online and have also played around with Pictochat for about 2 seconds. I find it more likely for a child to be interested in Pictochat than anyone else and I have no problem with a news station talking about it being used by predators. My wife is a school teacher so she hears about ways to protect children all the time... I have no problem with parents being informed... even it its something very unlikely.


It's a ridiculous made-up scenario. Pictochat is far more limited than face-to-face conversation.

Pictochat is one of the most useless features of the DS. I have never EVER found nor heard of a public place where one could find strangers to Pictochat with except the Penny-Arcade Expo (a gamer event). The likelihood that a child with a DS in a public place would be BORED enough to launch Pictochat on the distant chance of finding another is SLIM TO NONE. That child would almost surely be PLAYING A GAME.I agree that it is slim to none that something like this would happen, but whats wrong with a news station telling parents about it?

[nufan427]

LMAO this is funnie, haha so they are sayin in order for me to get lil kids i have to drive around LMAO ! this is stupid. and it is all made up pretty lame

[razuraw]

what a useless report kids dont care about picochat they just want to play games not talk to strangers in a mall. journalism these days suck big time.

p.s the cop saying that the nindend ds is a communications device lol more like a crapy toy with some fun games.

[Ichinisan]

It's a ridiculous made-up scenario. Pictochat is far more limited than face-to-face conversation.

Pictochat is one of the most useless features of the DS. I have never EVER found nor heard of a public place where one could find strangers to Pictochat with except the Penny-Arcade Expo (a gamer event). The likelihood that a child with a DS in a public place would be BORED enough to launch Pictochat on the distant chance of finding another is SLIM TO NONE. That child would almost surely be PLAYING A GAME.

I agree that it is slim to none that something like this would happen, but whats wrong with a news station telling parents about it?
They didn't simply report it as a possibility. They proclaimed it as a dangerous flaw that all parents NEED to know. No doubt, they played teaser clips all day before the newscast.

"Millions of parents purchased this fun Nintendo game for their children this holiday season. Were you one of them? If so, your child could be using it to talk to a potential child molester. Coming up at 11, we show you how a child molester could use this innocent-looking game to lure your child into a dangerous situation. A news story that every parent needs to know. Only on [local station] news."

HILARIOUS:
http://www.penny-arcade.com/comic/2007/02/09

[sigma8]

I can't believe I have to repeat myself every time this story comes up. The news was a LOCAL STATION that had nothing to do with Fox News. The local station is a Fox AFFILIATE, meaning that they show the same prime-time programming.

It's true local affiliates are all pretty bad when it comes to non-local news. My jab was a postscript and just meant to stoke the flames.. >.<

As I said, I haven't even had a chance to watch the news clip. I stand by the statements in my first post, that it's odd that Nintendo stands in the spotlight here, considering Sony and Microsoft have done absolutely nothing to hinder pedo's, and Nintendo has. Nintendo is the only one with online safeguards for children (and everyone...by default..we're all forced to use their wi-fi rules).

[Knocks]

The proper use of Pictochat: User launches Pictochat. User observes 0 people available for chat. User exits Pictochat and never opens it again.

Parents who are worried about molesters should ban their kids from using MySpace, not DS.

P.S. The cop said the DS is a communication device, and not a VISUAL device. A visual device is like a pair of glasses, I guess?

[danzjjang]

I never realized the Pictochat was actually recognized by kids. I mean, I never use it either o_o

[quikkid]

I didn't realize that the DS "seeks" out other DS'es on it's own free will without you knowing about it. It's not like Pictochat is some hidden feature, hell if you are that concerned, read the manual!

"That means a molester driving along could see your child in the back seat and start sending messages while you're in the front seat, totally oblivious to what's happening." - Yes, because he has the ability to drive, while paying at least a bit of attention to the road; while holding the ds with one hand and writing with the other. Is it even feasible?

Let me be the first to say "thank you Fox" for giving all the twisted people out there another ploy to lure in children.

[EL_CAD]

The real question is did this ever happen? No. Never did. Not news, just FOX.


In other FOX News stories:
Ossama bin Laden is now using Worms on the DS to plan his next attack.
Spore was created by the Devil to teach kids evolution.

Oh I forgot it's FOX so the headlines should read:
Ossama bin Laden is now using Worms on the DS to plan his next attack?
Spore was created by the Devil to teach kids evolution?

[CZroe]

...I agree that it is slim to none that something like this would happen, but whats wrong with a news station telling parents about it?
Ask yourself that question one more time... It's exactly because they WON'T tell you that it's a slim to none chance. In fact, they never even mention that in any feasible situation that it is simply an alternative to using your voice. Pictochat is useless under normal conditions that you must go through extensive effort to set yourself up to utilize it (get a friend, second DS, and co-ordinate FACE TO FACE before hand). People have used it to arrange cheating on tests. The only situations it can be used to meet people with are gaming conventions where this is expected. To solicit a child, you'd have to see them and be close enough know that they were one of the INSANELY rare people to be using Pictochat for no reason at that particular time (you can't just prompt them to start it and they wouldn't be just sitting there waiting for someone while draining the batteries). In short, you'd have to be in the same room. All anyone would have to do to find the guy is look around. He didn't use the DS to "find" your child. He used his eyes. Also, are "rooms" now unsafe because people could see and contact your child regardless of the DS? "Hey, cute kid."

Next up: "Yoshi Touch and Go! Unique puzzler, or predatory tool?" Touch & Go has a Pictochat-indicator that lets you know when you are in range of an active Pictochat room. You have to be playing the game actively with the feature turned on... all it ends up being is a HUGE waste of batteries. So, not this game is catering to child predators and acting as a tool because it allows them to actually play a game and entertain themselves while searching for children to molest?


The real question is did this ever happen? No. Never did. Not news, just FOX.


In other FOX News stories:
Ossama bin Laden is now using Worms on the DS to plan his next attack.
Spore was created by the Devil to teach kids evolution.

Oh I fought it's FOX so the headlines should read:
Ossama bin Laden is now using Worms on the DS to plan his next attack?
Spore was created by the Devil to teach kids evolution?
Did you even read the conversation? Let me sum it up: It's not FOX.

[Ichinisan]

The real question is did this ever happen? No. Never did. Not news, just FOX.


In other FOX News stories:
Ossama bin Laden is now using Worms on the DS to plan his next attack.
Spore was created by the Devil to teach kids evolution.

Oh I fought it's FOX so the headlines should read:
Ossama bin Laden is now using Worms on the DS to plan his next attack?
Spore was created by the Devil to teach kids evolution?

Fucking know-it-all. :rolleyes: Try thinking before you type. Or, at the very least, READ.



Oh I forgot to add that this was Fox news, so we shouldn't expect them to show much common sense.
I can't believe I have to repeat myself every time this story comes up. The news was a LOCAL STATION that had nothing to do with Fox News. The local station is a Fox AFFILIATE, meaning that they show the same prime-time programming.

Fox affiliates play American Idol, 24, House M.D., Family Guy, American Dad, Prison Break, etc.

Being a Fox affiliate has nothing to do with the news stories. Like most local news agencies, they are always eager for fear-inducing stories to hook viewers and their lack of professionalism leads to stories like this.

From the "Playstation Porn-able" article:
http://forums.maxconsole.net/showthread.php?t=35258&page=2
http://forums.maxconsole.net/showpost.php?p=285754&postcount=19

What's with all the Fox-bashing? Are you all too stupid to tell the difference between the REAL Fox News and a local Fox affiliate?

This "channel 29" is a LOCAL STATION that pays for Fox television programming ( House, 24, Family Guy, American Dad, The Simpsons, Malcolm in the Middle, American Idol, The Surreal Life, The Simple Life, Vanished, Prison Break, Trading Spouses, Standoff, The War at Home, America's Most Wanted, The OC, King of the Hill, etc). This is their only relation to Fox. They have NOTHING TO DO with Fox News.

Understand?

This is not the first local news station to make a retarded story about sexual predators and portable game devices. Only local news stations are able to get away with sensationalist stories like this one. A real national/network news agency would not air such garbage.

[11111]

on the way home today fox news was on the radio for their news commercial and i laughed so hard when they said this for tonight's show.

[Xenogears V]

F*ck, there be one whom says that the videogames do well!.

[EL_CAD]

Did you even read the conversation? Let me sum it up: It's not FOX.
What to you mean read?? It was a video. And the bottom right hand corner clearly READ "My FOX", that's the part I READ.

[CZroe]

The real question is did this ever happen? No. Never did. Not news, just FOX.
Did you even read the conversation? Let me sum it up: It's not FOX.
What to you mean read?? It was a video. And the bottom right hand corner clearly READ "My FOX", that part I did READ.
English clearly isn't your first language, so I don't want to sound insulting.

I was asking if you read "the conversation." The one you are participating in. Fox News is a cable channel. What was shown was local news. Almost all local news airs on FOX, CBS, ABC, The CW, & NBC affiliate stations, but it has nothing to do with the national network. As a FOX affiliate, they carry FOX branding ("My FOX") and programming (House M.D., American Idol, The Simpsons, etc). FOX News, a cable network to compete with CNN (Cable News Network) and MSNBC is totally different.

Part of the confusion comes with network news programs like 60 Minutes, Dateline, NBC Nightly News, etc, but these are national programs just like "The Simpsons."

[EL_CAD]

Oh you guys are to f-ing to much. So what if my grammer is not spot on. What is this the AP style guide site? Was my grammer/spelling so bad that you did not understand what I was was trying to say?

The NEWS story was on FOX. The cable channel is called FOX News Channel not FOX News. The Milwaukee FOX channel's site refers to it's self as FOXnews:
http://www.myfoxmilwaukee.com/myfox/pages/News/Index

When I go to the local McDonald's, I don't say that I am going to the Local McDonald's Franchise That Is Independantly Owned And Operated. I say I am going to McDonalds.

[Ichinisan]

Oh you guys are to f-ing to much. So what if my grammer is not spot on. What is this the AP style guide site? Was my grammer/spelling so bad that you did not understand what I was was trying to say?

The NEWS story was on FOX. The cable channel is called FOX News Channel not FOX News. The Milwaukee FOX channel's site refers to it's self as FOXnews:
http://www.myfoxmilwaukee.com/myfox/pages/News/Index

When I go to the local McDonald's, I don't say that I am going to the Local McDonald's Franchise That Is Independantly Owned And Operated. I say I am going to McDonalds.
I said that a local station's affiliation with Fox is for TELEVISION PROGRAMMING ONLY. It was kind of hard to miss that in what I said. The local station's news staff, stories, and investigative reporting are completely independent. The correlation that you tried to make simply does not exist.

Anyway, I see now that you probably didn't see my first post that I quoted because it was on the first page.

[voteforpedro36]

Lol. The one kid looked a lot like he had a red GBA SP, not a DS. I'll watch that part again... Yeah I really do think that one kid had a GBA SP, but I can't tell for sure.

And do you really think someone is gonna spend however much they can find a DS for just to molest your kids? I'd say they'd use MySpace.

I have too many things to say about this, and not enough time.

[danzjjang]

one thing that has been bothering me about this news, about how far the DS signal can go.... over 300ft wtf? It's only like 60 feet or so (i find it much shorter..) ! Well I tried to pictochat with a friend in high school (fairly small) and connection got cuz pretty fast... Can anyone confirm the "actual" capability for the wireless signal range strength?

[Cucucachoo]

yes, this report is true, I've molested hundreds of unsuspecting children in other cars on the highway by touching them with the touch screen and blowing them kisses through the microphone... all this while I am driving my car, without pants, and being 400 miles away in Alaska.

All it cost me was $130.00 !!!

[voteforpedro36]

yes, this report is true, I've molested hundreds of unsuspecting children in other cars on the highway by touching them with the touch screen and blowing them kisses through the microphone... all this while I am driving my car, without pants, and being 400 miles away in Alaska.

All it cost me was $130.00 !!!

Lol, yeah, I can believe that.

[Codekingmss]

There is one use for picto-chat. Cheating on tests. It is handy because you can just write the answers.

[vash546]

zomg i live in walworth county in wisconsin and it was a milwaukee wisconsin news report lol im so ashamed of being a wisconsinite after watching that lol


i didnt even know you could chat without a wifi adapter lol

[partystar]

I really hate the windows live messenger sound effects, like when someone logs on, when you get a message.. etc...Does anyone know where I can find some alternative sounds for MSN? More specifically, does anyone have the DS Picto chat sounds I could use on msn?Thanks in advance