US and UK 'spy on virtual games like World of Warcraft'

[cronus]

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-us-canada-25310774

US and UK 'spy on virtual games like World of Warcraft'

US and British spies have reportedly infiltrated online games such as World of Warcraft in an effort to identify terrorist threats, according to media reports.

The undercover agents reportedly operated in virtual universes to observe messaging and payment systems.

The NSA allegedly warned that such online games could allow intelligence targets to hide in plain sight.

Virtual universe games draw millions of players from around the globe.

News of the operation was broken by the New York Times, the Guardian and ProPublica on Monday using leaked confidential government information obtained by whistleblower Edward Snowden.

The media reports allege US and UK spies spent years investigating online games including Second Life for potential terrorist activity.

One leaked document published by the New York Times claims such video games could be used for recruitment or to conduct virtual weapons training.

The NSA is said to have extracted World of Warcraft account data and attempted to link it to Islamic extremism and arms deals, according to the Guardian.

The popular online fantasy game, which at one point boasted upwards of 12 million subscribers, has reportedly attracted users such as embassy employees, scientists and military and intelligence officials.

At one point during the investigation, so many national security agents were reportedly playing video games that a "deconfliction" group was created to ensure they were not inadvertently spying on one another.

(continued)

[pErvinalia]

This sounds like a parody. I had to double check the source.

[cronus]

http://www.thedailymash.co.uk/news/inte ... 3121081899

NSA feared invasion by orcs

WORLD of Warcraft was monitored by NSA agents to assess the risk of orcs invading mainland America, it has been confirmed.

The online contraceptive features ten million users, making them the world’s second-largest standing army behind North Korea.

US agents feared they could have banded together to hit bits of the internet with their swords.

Pretend goblin Wayne Hayes of the Hellfire Citadel and Carlisle said: “I have +7 insurgence and the Helm Of Civil Unrest so I can see why they would fear me.

“My cabal of warriors and I could have rained down a storm of destruction, so long as it didn’t take more than the four hours online my mum has rationed me to each evening.”

The decision to target the game came after the discovery that Osama Bin Laden, was once a level 47 Mage called Sulayman The Infidel Destroyer and that a 2009 bomb plot was in retaliation for a failed Alzin The Wildshaper quest.

Spies infiltrating the game were spotted in taverns recruiting for anti-democracy quests for which players would only be rewarded after their demise.

Their failure to assimilate was also blamed on their chosen avatars of a white man in chinos and a blazer, with user names such as JEdgarHoover236.

(continued)

[NineBerry]

According to a documentary on Islamist terrorism I saw (Called 4 cats or something like that) the terrorists do actually do use online games for communication

[pErvinalia]

Yeah, it would seem like a good way to hide your communications in plain sight. It was just the ridiculous lines about "virtual weapons training" and the "deconfliction" group that were so ridiculous it sounds like they are parodying themselves.

[NineBerry]

There are better ways. A terror group in Germany allegedly communicated by having a common login to a webmail account and leaving messages in the "Drafts" folder. This caused quite some problems because there is a constitutional ban on surveying "unsent letters".

[Warren Dew]

There are better ways. A terror group in Germany allegedly communicated by having a common login to a webmail account and leaving messages in the "Drafts" folder. This caused quite some problems because there is a constitutional ban on surveying "unsent letters".

Well, a ban on looking at them without a warrant, anyway.

[Jason]

That's not even the best part. They also spy on you when you wank.

[Clinton Huxley]

They hide behind the tins of mushy peas in the supermarket.

[JimC]

...online games including Second Life...

Wouldn't describe that as "an online game"...