00:59Austria: DataDealer online privacy game features virtual Snowden
Austria: DataDealer online privacy game features virtual Snowden
The development studio currently working on online privacy game DataDealer spoke out on Wednesday in Vienna about the dangers of massive data collection rapidly becoming more pervasive in our technological world. The team have added a virtual representation of Edward Snowden, the security consultant who became famous for leaking details of the US government's covert Internet spy programme.
"It's really scary to know that all our phone calls, web surfing and so on can be surveilled," said Co-creator Wolfie Christl. "So I can't imagine what else he could reveal."
DataDealer is an interactive computer game in which the player takes on the role of a "Data Broker", or a trader of personal data. Huge internet companies, such as Google and Facebook, collect huge sets of data from millions of users of their services every day. Data, such as age, location, and medical history, can be incredibly valuable to corporations and governments alike.
Christl said: "If for example insurance companies or human resource departments can access all this data, they can do really bad stuff. So for example, someone doesn't get a job, because there is some information on the social web out there."
The team add current affairs and news into the game almost instantly allowing you to pit your luck against the leader of the NSA and their PRISM spying system. Christl and his team want to educate and encourage dialogue on the serious issues of mass data collection. It was most recently awarded the Games For Change 2013 winning prize for most significant impact.
A full version of the game is under development for international release and for use in the education sector, and all the sooner should the labour-of-love inspire it's Kickstarter audience within the coming 8-day deadline for funding.
00:59Austria: DataDealer online privacy game features virtual Snowden
The development studio currently working on online privacy game DataDealer spoke out on Wednesday in Vienna about the dangers of massive data collection rapidly becoming more pervasive in our technological world. The team have added a virtual representation of Edward Snowden, the security consultant who became famous for leaking details of the US government's covert Internet spy programme.
"It's really scary to know that all our phone calls, web surfing and so on can be surveilled," said Co-creator Wolfie Christl. "So I can't imagine what else he could reveal."
DataDealer is an interactive computer game in which the player takes on the role of a "Data Broker", or a trader of personal data. Huge internet companies, such as Google and Facebook, collect huge sets of data from millions of users of their services every day. Data, such as age, location, and medical history, can be incredibly valuable to corporations and governments alike.
Christl said: "If for example insurance companies or human resource departments can access all this data, they can do really bad stuff. So for example, someone doesn't get a job, because there is some information on the social web out there."
The team add current affairs and news into the game almost instantly allowing you to pit your luck against the leader of the NSA and their PRISM spying system. Christl and his team want to educate and encourage dialogue on the serious issues of mass data collection. It was most recently awarded the Games For Change 2013 winning prize for most significant impact.
A full version of the game is under development for international release and for use in the education sector, and all the sooner should the labour-of-love inspire it's Kickstarter audience within the coming 8-day deadline for funding.