FBI Working With Game Developer Group to Tackle Online Harassment

Polygon reports that the International Game Developers Association has been in contact with the FBI in relation to online harassment and abuse in recent week. 

The scale and intensity of the abuse recently has escalated to the point where thousands of developers joined together to sign an open letter asking the "gaming community" to help stop abuse towards game makers. Those who have signed include developers from Sony, Microsoft, Epic Games, Infinity Ward, and many other studios.

IGDA executive director Kate Edwards revealed that he has been in touch with the FBI, stating: 

"They noted a rise in activity. They themselves monitor this activity, but they're focused more on cybercrime issues like hacking and very malicious harassment."

The IGDA now plans to establish an online resource for game developers who have been impacted by abuse and harassment online, and will have a website in place soon. Edwards added: 

"What [the FBI] wanted from me was an interface for developers so they can share preventative measures they want to get out to us. We met, discussed the issue and said, 'Let's collaborate.' They said if you have an online presence as a game developer you need to think about security issues. That was the basis of the meeting."

Last week, the IGDA condemned the harassment of developers in a statement on their website: 

"Over the last several weeks, game developers and affiliates have been the subject of harassment and 'doxxing' attacks, including threats and posting of home addresses. While we support diverse viewpoints and healthy debate on the issues within our industry, we condemn personal attacks such as these which are not only morally reprehensible, but also illegal in many countries. We call on the entire game community to stand together against this abhorrent behavior."

Game developers requested in their open letter that those who see hateful speech report it to the appropriate website where the remarks have been made.