Wired: National intelligence seeking terrorists in WoW
by Griffin McElroy 
{ Feb 23rd 2008 at 7:00PM }
Wired reports that U.S. intelligence is planning on developing a data mining program using World of Warcraft that will help root out violent extremists that play MMOs. The ultimate goal of the "Reynard project" is to develop software that is capable of "automatically detecting suspicious behavior and actions in the virtual world." On one hand, we can see why they'd want to keep an eye on a community that's 10 million strong (fun fact -- there's 142 countries with a smaller population than WoW). On the other, we're not sure we want The Man looking over our shoulder every time we craft a Big Iron Bomb.
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
FidliousWong @ Feb 23rd 2008 7:04PM
That picture is pure win.
Henry @ Feb 23rd 2008 7:05PM
Sorry...I missed the article, the picture was too funny.
Nick the Hero of Canton @ Feb 23rd 2008 7:15PM
Damnit. Damnit. Damnit. DAMNIT.
dan stabbingworth @ Feb 24th 2008 12:07PM
Dammit Chloe!
Sam @ Feb 23rd 2008 7:22PM
Jack Bauer would make a kickass raid leader.
jackbauer @ Feb 23rd 2008 8:42PM
yes, yes I would.
psychoticdream @ Feb 24th 2008 9:08AM
why do i get the feeling that jack bauer plays a night elf rogue?
usagi704 @ Feb 23rd 2008 7:21PM
"develop software that is capable of "automatically detecting suspicious behavior and actions in the virtual world.""
Yeah because this isn't completely subjective! What the hell is wrong with this fucking administration?
ScallionN @ Feb 24th 2008 6:21AM
Just about everything. And are they legally allowed to do this? I thought we had certain provisions to protect us from surveillance like that, even in WoW (which I don't "play"). And because this affects international players,too, aren't they even more...unallowed to do this?
And yes, I'm being somewhat sarcastic: of course they're not allowed, and certainly not morally so, but they'll do it anyway. And if the US government catches a terrorist through WoW, I will eat my words, along with an organ of Joystiq's choice.
NoHitHair @ Feb 24th 2008 6:44AM
I certainly hope whatever organ Joystiq prepares for you it's well cooked - the current administration has little problem labeling just about anyone a terrorist. Under their criteria, it'd be child's play to find a "terrorist", especially given some of the potentially subversive names of guilds.
usagi704 @ Feb 24th 2008 7:28AM
Yeah, ScallionN, I completely understand that this administration has just about everything wrong with them, as my question was more rhetorical than anything else. I just can't believe that they keep doing shit like this, day in and day out. It never ends!
The FISA BS going on right now is so amazing in such a fucked up way. The unlawful current FISA was to be extended, but just because it didn't have the telecom company retroactive immunity in it, Bush vetoed it and is trying to make it seem as if our foreign intelligence ability is now diminished and make it out to be the House Democrat's fault because they won't pass the version with the immunity in it, when in fact it was Bush who is responsible for it expiring!
panzerjedi @ Feb 23rd 2008 7:23PM
"suspicious behavior and actions" in WoW? Nah. Never.
Bill Kutargi @ Feb 23rd 2008 7:25PM
Well that there you are! All those casulties of corrupted blood were caused by terrorists! Case Closed!
LOs @ Feb 23rd 2008 7:42PM
Haven't we already won if the terrorists are enjoying our MMOs?
That's gotta be right up there with alcohol, women showing off some calf, and goat-f*****, on the list of things Allah forbids.
drsashamd @ Feb 23rd 2008 8:58PM
Wow, you fail at sarcasm.
LOs @ Feb 23rd 2008 9:19PM
Wow, you fail at observational humor.
Sasha @ Feb 23rd 2008 11:54PM
Since when does making a prejudiced comment qualify as "observational humor"?
usagi704 @ Feb 24th 2008 7:39AM
If it makes you feel any better, LOs, I found it funny. These other prudes would rather be offended by everything rather than enjoy life. Sucks to be them.
Brian Fantana @ Feb 23rd 2008 7:51PM
I wouldn't doubt that they use Xbox Live to communicate either.
yojimb0 @ Feb 23rd 2008 7:51PM
Don't terrorists have better things to do than play WoW? Like, you know, terrorizing? This is some pretty pathetic porkbarrel nonsense.
Emceay @ Feb 24th 2008 10:39AM
Meh, drugs could be considered terrorism.
SLSSNAKE @ Feb 23rd 2008 7:54PM
You know they're going to crack down on the cyber-prostitution rings next.
Matt B @ Feb 23rd 2008 7:59PM
I miss 24. :(
NoHitHair @ Feb 24th 2008 6:50AM
I miss it from when it actually had good writing (i.e. Seasons 1-3).
As far as I'm concerned, that show's been off the air for years.
Chameleon @ Feb 24th 2008 9:55AM
c'mon nohit 4 and 5 weren't that bad, especially the end of 5 ....
bvhj @ Feb 23rd 2008 8:06PM
Jesus shit Americans are dumb...
ThornedVenom (Ludwig Defense Force) @ Feb 23rd 2008 8:32PM
There's a difference between dumb and paranoid.
But now there's reason for them to be paranoid, since thanks to their own doing everyone hates their guts.
BigD145 @ Feb 23rd 2008 9:58PM
Paranoia gets you things like the Pol Pot legacy and ... Vietnam War, Korean War, Iraq War, both WW's, every Inquisition, etc., etc. ad nauseum. I give a hearty "F.U.!!" to every leader that talks to an invisible guy in their heads. Everyone else is not the enemy. You are.
raquor @ Feb 23rd 2008 10:19PM
Awww, come on now...just because our government is dumb as shit and wastes our tax dollars on completely idiotic things doesn't make the rest of us complete fucktards...does it?
Derick @ Feb 24th 2008 12:57AM
Well, it is a democracy...
who do we have to blame for the people in office?
(that's right, the generation before mine)
NoHitHair @ Feb 24th 2008 6:54AM
My god... Anti-American speech and no blind patriots screaming in caps in response?
timnc @ Feb 24th 2008 9:15AM
I'm the blind patriot. This country is doomed until a true constitutional conservative is put in office.
No caps or screaming.
Mr Khan @ Feb 24th 2008 10:57AM
Good luck with that. John McCain is the nominee, no constructionists in sight
Bluebrake @ Feb 23rd 2008 8:06PM
I'm curious what kind of suspicious activities one can perform in WoW. Are they going to blow up the auction house?
Brian Fantana @ Feb 23rd 2008 8:16PM
It's a way to communicate. Talking over the phone and using e-mail and IM's is risky. WOW isn't policed.
Chase @ Feb 23rd 2008 8:11PM
I bet their "data mining" program will be a simple word filter - which will be useless when the Terrorists start using Internet slang.
"IDK my BFF Jillhad?"
stoik @ Feb 23rd 2008 9:20PM
The joys of word filters.
"mail bomb"
"assassination"
"same-sex marriages"
"patagonia"
"Nader for president!"
DWells55 @ Feb 24th 2008 2:41AM
Chase, that was probably one of the funniest things I've ever read on *any* comment system. +1 for you, good sir.
RabbidMickeyMouse @ Feb 23rd 2008 8:13PM
Let the hyperbole Big Brother comments commence!
ThornedVenom (Ludwig Defense Force) @ Feb 23rd 2008 8:33PM
OH SHIT MY TERRORIST OPERATIONS HAVE BEEN FOILED!
My Horde brethren was about to suicide bomb the shit out of Ironforge.
jackbauer @ Feb 23rd 2008 8:47PM
You are gonna tell me what I want to know, it is all up to how much you want it to hurt. WHERE IS THE BIG IRON BOMB?!!!
ill trooper @ Feb 23rd 2008 10:26PM
I think this is an elaborate excuse to allow trusted civil servants to grind and level-up at work, on the U.S. taxpayer's dime.
"Ah, uh, yes... National security interests. Yes. OPERATION: GOLDFARM."
Zorink @ Feb 23rd 2008 9:49PM
LEEEROYYYYYYY JENKII....
Zorink @ Feb 23rd 2008 9:51PM
You have the right to remain silent. Anything you say can and will be used against you in a court of law.
Virtuous @ Feb 23rd 2008 9:51PM
You mean National Incompetence, not National Intelligence. :-)
BigD145 @ Feb 23rd 2008 10:18PM
I see the CIA finally got a copy of Counter Strike.
ApolloIV @ Feb 23rd 2008 10:45PM
Pssh not if the terriorist speak 1337. Then we are |=|_|(|
ApolloIV @ Feb 23rd 2008 10:46PM
shit terrorist' but my other spelling issues really haven't stopped me before so I'm not sure why I'm fixing this one.
Hyams @ Feb 23rd 2008 10:46PM
I though this was a joke when I first heard of this. Look: these Islamic terrorists are even more pious/bat-shit-crazy then the Christians that claim Harry Potter and D'n'D are the work of the Devil. They wouldn't go near a fantasy-based MMO like WoW.
Either US Intelligence is horribly ignorant of the ideals of Islamic terrorists - and are wasting time and money on this - or else they have some other reason for spying on WoW players.
ThornedVenom (Ludwig Defense Force) @ Feb 23rd 2008 11:07PM
Actually, it's just a giant pretext to party with female nightelves during work hours.