GCHQ spooks allegedly monitored World of Warcraft gamers
In a case of fact seeming stranger than fiction reports have emerged suggesting that undercover agents working for US and UK intelligence services routinely infiltrate online games such as World of Warcraft to identify terrorist threats.
Both the NSA and GCHQ are alleged to have assigned agents to operate undercover in the virtual worlds, observing messaging and online payment systems over fears that such environments provided the perfect camouflage for terrorist training and recruitment.
The claims are contained within the latest batch of leaks sourced from documents obtained by Edward Snowden, which suggest the NSA attempted to cross check World of Warcraft account data with Islamic extremism and arms deals.
At its peak World of Warcraft attracted 12m subscribers, including well-connected individuals such as embassy officials, scientists and military officers.