The FBI and US branch of the International Game Developers Association is teaming up with bullying experts to address the rise in online harassment. In an exclusive interview with Polygon, the IGDA revealed that it is working on a resource on its site that may help game developers outline what will be done to deal with harassment and abuse. Recently the game development community took a stand against online harassment.
IGDA’s Executive Director, Kate Edwards, has been working with the FBI since their meeting at the San Diego Comic Con in July. The meeting regarded the harassment of game developers. According to Edwards:
“They noted a rise in activity. They monitor this activity, but are focused more on cybercrime issues like hacking and very malicious harassment.”
A spokesperson for the FBI, Emily Yeh, said:
“We wanted to let Ms. Edwards know the FBI’s capability,”
The harassment of game developers has become a much talked about issue since last summer, after a number of incidents with high-profile members brought the issue to light. In the most resent case, feminist game critic Anita Sarkeesian was driven from her home due to death threats, as well as a bomb threat on Twitter that caused the diverting of a plane carrying Sony Online Entertainment’s president John Smedly.
This week the game development community stood up against hateful behavior online. The board of directors for the IGDA condemned the harassment of developers, with the rallying support of several other representatives from companies such as Ubisoft, Splash Damage, DICE, Telltale, Microsoft, Rockstar and many others in an open letter on their website.
