Posts with tag nsa

The World (of Warcraft) was riveted when we found out that the NSA lurked in the hidden spaces of Azeroth watching us kill internet dragons. (I fully expect an official document that says, "repeatedly stood in fire: no threat.") But can you imagine what it must have been like behind the scenes? Did they use game cards? What was it called?

Slightly Impressive tackled the shocking news with the new video Operation MMORPG. While the subject of privacy is obviously controversial, I think you'll find SI handled it with all the grace and composure you could expect.

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NSFW Warning: True Blood clip in this week's roundup includes scantily clad individuals, as you might except from a True Blood clip.

TradeChat's Panser returns with this week's WoW Insider news recap, where we look back at the hottest news from the past week and whatever other kickin' rad things may have come our way. This week's topics include:

• Patch 5.4.2 hitting live realms
• NSA spying in World of Warcraft but that isn't exactly new
• Warcraft movie cast revealed by Legendary Pictures
• Robert Kazinsky, Warcraft movie actor, huge WoW nerd

If you enjoyed the show, make sure to subscribe to TradeChat, leave a comment, and come back next week for the next episode!

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Edward Snowden, the former National Security Agency contractor, has released information saying that world governments are spying on people in World of Warcraft, Second Life, and Xbox Live. The governments believe the games and communication systems can be used for terrorism.

Blizzard responded to ProPublica about the leak, saying that they "are unaware of any surveillance taking place. If it was, it would have been done without our knowledge or permission."

Obviously no one likes to hear about being under unnecessary surveillance, and while we won't get into the debate over a government's right to monitor various groups, it's important to remember that this surveillance is nothing new. We've known for years that the U.S. government believes WoW and games like it can be used for nefarious purposes, including those related to terrorism. In 2009 we learned that the FBI even went as far as to hold virtual exercises in what terrorism conversations in the game might look like. In 2008 a public report to congress detailed the plans of the Director of National Intelligence to data mine conversations in WoW. PBS' Bill Moyers even did a report on it.

Keep this in mind today as the news spreads around the internet. We've known for a long time, it's just being made a deal now due to the Snowden leaks.

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