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Puffin Pauses ‘Spy Dog’ Sales After Printed URL Redirects to Pornography

The publisher expects a lengthy process to remove the hijacked site.

Overview

  • An internet address printed in some Spy Dog, Spy Cat and Spy Pups editions was taken over by an unrelated third party and now directs to adult content.
  • Puffin has halted sale and distribution and is working with retailers, schools and libraries to withdraw affected copies from shelves.
  • Schools and local authorities across the UK have issued safeguarding alerts to parents and are removing the books from classrooms and libraries.
  • Waterstones says it has taken the titles off sale following advice from the publisher.
  • The domain originally belonged to author Andrew Cope before being acquired by a third party, and the duration and international scope of the exposure remain unclear.