If you had a funny feeling that you were being watched in your Xbox Live games, then your suspicious were correct. Not watched by Microsoft, however, but by American and British intelligence agencies, including the NSA and GCHQ. Documents disclosed by former National Security Agency contractor Edward J. Snowden reveal details on its efforts to spy on players in games and services like World of Warcraft, Second Life, and Microsoft's Xbox Live.
These gaming services, they believe, could be used to plot terrorist attacks in plain sight, classifying online games as a "target-rich communication network." Despite their efforts and beliefs, the documents doesn't note any terrorists plans thwarted as a result of their gaming infiltration.
The documents reveal that spies would create in-game characters to snoop on players' activities, which included recruiting informants and capturing communication data.
Blizzard Entertainment maintains that they have no knowledge of any such activities. "We are unaware of any surveillance taking place," a Blizzard spokesperson said. "If it was, it would have been done without our knowledge or permission."
Representatives for both Microsoft and Second Life declined to comment on the matter.
Anyone find this news surprising? If so, will it change how you game online?
Source: ProPublica
