Spies’ Dragnet Reaches a Playing Field of Elves and Trolls

[onpatrol98]

Spies’ Dragnet Reaches a Playing Field of Elves and Trolls

By MARK MAZZETTI and JUSTIN ELLIOTT
Published: December 9, 2013

Not limiting their activities to the earthly realm, American and British spies have infiltrated the fantasy worlds of World of Warcraft and Second Life, conducting surveillance and scooping up data in the online games played by millions of people across the globe, according to newly disclosed classified documents.

Fearing that terrorist or criminal networks could use the games to communicate secretly, move money or plot attacks, the documents show, intelligence operatives have entered terrain populated by digital avatars that include elves, gnomes and supermodels.

The spies have created make-believe characters to snoop and to try to recruit informers, while also collecting data and contents of communications between players, according to the documents, disclosed by the former National Security Agency contractor Edward J. Snowden. Because militants often rely on features common to video games — fake identities, voice and text chats, a way to conduct financial transactions — American and British intelligence agencies worried that they might be operating there, according to the papers.

http://www.nytimes.com/2013/12/10/world/spies-dragnet-reaches-a-playing-field-of-elves-and-trolls.html?hp&_r=0

[Savannahmann]

1. If one tenth of the dangers that the unInteligence Agencies saw was real

None of us would be able to leave our homes. We would be bombarded by falling planes, dirty bombs, CW's, and roving bands of terrorists.

Unfortunately, the people that the unintelligence agencies do manage to scare is the Congress who turn into bobble head dolls every time the dolts demand more money to "protect 'Merica".

[idwiyo]

2. I can see how someone could have a blast playing games and getting payed for it.

Hmmmm, I wonder if they need "data" collecting in EVE... Hmmmm...

[onpatrol98]

5. I tried EVE for the first time last week...

I love the look of space in the game. But, to say it has a learning curve is a MASSIVE understatement. I was curious about it, after I heard it was programmed in Python. Plus, I just hadn't tried a space game.

[idwiyo]

6. Have been playing it since 2005. Love the game, hate knowing I am an addict. :)

Totally agree about learning curve.

[onpatrol98]

8. Thinking the same thing...

I was thinking EXACTLY the same thing. Are they hiring?



Just kidding...mostly.

[idwiyo]

10. I'd love to know how to apply! 8 hours immersed in EVE...

Ummm, yeah Boss... about that hardware stuff... it will help my productivity a lot if I an have a relatively cheap desk like this one:

[onpatrol98]

11. LOL...

How much does this cost?

[idwiyo]

12. Oh, nothing really... about $50K. It's for the Glory and Security of Great Britain and US...

http://www.mwelab.com/index.php/en/products/emperor-200

The Emperor 200... Luxury, Sophistication and Ergonomic Comfort without Compromise.

Hand built to your requirements, the Emperor 200 is the ultimate computer workstation with several exclusive features such as touch screen control center, air filtering system, light therapy, electric powered leather seat, up to 3 x 27" LED screens and a breathtaking sound! Be bold and unique!

MSRP: $49,150 US

Really, I am making such a huge sacrifice by not asking for anything bigger than 27" monitors... for now, that is...

[Egalitarian Thug]

3. I suppose that, since no one has called them out and laughed in their faces yet, "Be afraid,

be very afraid" is still effective for at least a sizable minority of our intellectually challenged fellow citizens.

[jwirr]

7. Many of us have one or more (I have 5) members in our families who are into one or more of the

games mentioned in the article. We are laughing at it right now. Americans will only accept this idea as "terrorists" if they ignore their own family members are the victims.

[onpatrol98]

9. It is not clear how useful such research might be.

And what about their research...

"It is not clear how useful such research might be. A group at the Palo Alto Research Center, for example, produced a government-funded study of World of Warcraft that found “younger players and male players preferring competitive, hack-and-slash activities, and older and female players preferring noncombat activities,” such as exploring the virtual world. A group from the nonprofit SRI International, meanwhile, found that players under age 18 often used all capital letters both in chat messages and in their avatar names."

http://www.nytimes.com/2013/12/10/world/spies-dragnet-reaches-a-playing-field-of-elves-and-trolls.html?pagewanted=3&_r=0&hp

[idwiyo]

13. No... Really? WOW! Just THINK how useful all that info is...

[el_bryanto]

14. There are some things that studying these games can tell us - about building societies and

communities. Some of these studies are pretty interesting.

It's hard to figure out what the NSA gets out of it though.

Bryant

[onpatrol98]

17. A new way to spy...

I can't think of anything beyond just a new way to spy. I wouldn't think you'd need a warrant. What could be more covert? Is that elf that just joined your guild REALLY a noob just looking for someone to PVP with...or something more.



Who knew that people could support their country by being video game spies?

[Katashi_itto]

4. Thats it. I am forming a Guild in "Neverwinter" MMOG..."The Elvish Al-Queda"

Death to infidels!

So we elves will invade the world of the mundanes!

[idwiyo]

15. You are welcome to join my EVE mercenary company "Holy Terror Sharks with LASER Beams"

Our motto: "Bow down before Sharkliban, ye infidels!"

[Katashi_itto]

19. LOL!!!

[hughee99]

16. Someone has to protect us from Zoltar the gelatinous cube. n/t

[Warren DeMontague]

18. I had a sim once offer me "favors" in exchange for dirt on Luigi's perverted sex practices