Nintendo’s new DSi is whipping up a storm of controversy, thanks to police in America who fear its combination of web browser, internet access and built-in camera could make it unsafe for children.
Sergeant Adam Holland of the Fort Smith Police Department in Arkansas says the Nintendo DSi is a pedophile’s dream device. “Now not only can the children be contacted, but they can be asked to provide pictures, video,” he says, pointing out that kids could use the DSi to circumvent parents’ restrictions on when and how they use the web.
“It’s a common misconception that, if I have control of this environment within my home and our computer usage, I therefore control what my child has access to” he told 5 News in Arkansas. “That’s proving not to be the case.”
Should parents be worried about the DSi being used by crooks to target children? Absolutely not. And if they are, Nintendo has built in parental controls to block out websites, or web access altogether.
The Nintendo DSi goes on sale in America on April 5, and will hit British stores on April 3.
