According to classified documents disclosed by former
National Security Agency contractor
Edward J. Snowden, 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.
"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.... 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.
"Online games might seem innocuous, a top-secret 2008 N.S.A. document warned, but they had the potential to be a “target-rich communication network” allowing intelligence suspects “a way to hide in plain sight.” Virtual games “are an opportunity!” another 2008 N.S.A. document declared. (nytimes.com,12-09-2013,"Spies' Dragnet Reaches a Playing Field of Elves and Troves).
♦ On December 9, 2013 The New York Times made original documents referred to in the above-mentioned story available at this link