Furby the spy? A brief history of the 1998 fad

A look back at Furby

The Furby craze hit Washington DC as hard as it did anywhere else, but it also prompted some national security concerns. Here’s a look at how WTTG covered those angles back on October 23, 1998 and January 13, 1999.

For many Americans, especially millennials, the Furby needs little introduction.

It is considered one of the most popular, and maybe one of the strangest, toys in history and was the first successful attempt to produce and sell a domestically-aimed robot.

The hybrid owl-bat creature could talk, sing, dance and seemingly learn a language from its owners.

Inspiration behind Furby

According to Hasbro, Dave Hampton, Richard Levy and Caleb Chung spent around two years creating and designing the first designs and prototypes of the toy.

Hampton had decided to make a ball of fur anthropomorphic, and the name Furby came from his son, who pointed out the toy did in fact look like a ball of fur.

With realistic ear wiggles, iconic expressive eyes, and even its own language called Furbish, Furby was more than just a toy – it was a personality meant to make you believe it was alive, Hasbro explained.

The Furbish language was inspired by a combination of languages cobbled together by Hampton after he picked up bits and pieces of Japanese, Thai, Chinese, and Hebrew during his time in the U.S. Navy.

The Furby, which is featured at the Toy '98 showcase of top toys for Christmas 1998, in London. (Credit: Matthew Fearn - PA Images/PA Images via Getty Images)

When was Furby first launched?

During a time of major digital disruption, the 1998 Furby, known as the "Classic Furby," was the first generation of Furby released. It continued to be sold for four more years.

When Furby was first released, it instantly became a phenomenon, with over 40 million units sold globally in the first three years.

Parents waited in hour-long lines to buy the furry friend, and the toy sparked a collector craze that drove auction prices above retail prices.

"Following its launch in 1998, Furby has taken the world by storm, impacting every corner of the culture zeitgeist, from music to television and film," Hasbro told FOX Television Stations. "Over the years, we’ve seen Furby pop up in various forms, whether it’s ‘The Simpsons’’ garage, blinged out in ‘Uncut Gems’ and even as a villainous Furby crew in ‘The Mitchells vs. the Machines.’"

But Furby became infamous not just for its popularity, but also for its mischievous nature. Lacking an off switch, the only way to silence it was by removing its batteries (meaning children would endure hearing its cries in the middle of the night).

Furby becomes national security threat

Despite its widespread popularity, the Furby became a national security concern in 1999, when the U.S. National Security Agency (NSA) feared the toy could record sensitive conversations.

As a result, the Furby was banned from locations like the NSA headquarters in Fort Meade, Maryland, and the U.S. Navy's Norfolk Naval Shipyard in Portsmouth, Virginia.

Furby now comes in the colors purple and coral. (Credit: Hasbro)

The espionage rumors were quickly debunked, but it wasn't until Tiger Electronics, the toy’s manufacturer, took action that the NSA lifted the ban.

"[It] is probably the biggest misconception Furby has seen over time," Kristin McKay, the vice president and general manager of global brands, fashion and preschool at Furby makers Hasbro, told The Independent. "In reality, Furby does not have the technology to record what people are saying."

Furby returns

The Furby's popularity began to wane in 2001, leading to its production halt in 2002. However, since its debut, the toy has seen numerous editions and special versions, featuring sensors like a tickle and tilt sensor, infrared port, light sensor, realistic eyes and tails or manes.

In 2005, Hasbro acquired Tiger Electronics, gaining ownership of Furby and its other toys, and in 2023, Hasbro launched the latest model which marked a significant departure from previous versions.

"A new generation of kids can discover their own curious little creature and kindred spirit, that’s sure to be their next BFF," the toy giant said in a press release in 2023. "With a history of disrupting pop culture and the toy aisle, Furby reminds kids that they can be their hilarious, wacky, perfectly imperfect selves, because that is what makes them – and the world – a little more special."

The latest robotic creature features five voice-activated modes, more than 600 responses, lights and 10 unique songs.

"Over the past few years, we’ve done a lot of research to understand what kids would want to see in a new Furby," McKay said. "Through this research, kids told us that it was important for Furby to be their ultimate best friend – a furry companion to do all the things a BFF would do, like dance to music, share fortunes, meditate, mimic each other in silly voices, and even put on a light show, and that’s exactly what we created."

Thanks to the longevity of the brand, Hasbro said it has sold more than 58 million Furby toys prior to its newest generation hitting shelves.

"Over the years, Furby has remained a unique symbol of self-expression for fans across the globe due to the immense and growing fandom that has taken Furby from just a toy to an imaginative brand and lifestyle," Hasbro shared.

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