NSA Can Listen to Xbox Live, World of Warcraft Communications
The Guardian prepares to release new documents.
by Luke Karmali DECEMBER 9, 2013
Update: Microsoft has responded to the claims that NSA and GCHQ spied on Xbox Live communications, saying it hasn't seen any evidence to support that it happened and it wasn't sanctioned if it did.
A spokesperson told Eurogamer, "We're not aware of any surveillance activity. If it has occurred as reported, it certainly wasn't done with our consent."
Additionally, the company has joined forces with the likes of Google, Yahoo,, LinkedIn Facebook and Twitter to issue a jointly-authored document condemning the unauthorised surveillance of its customers. The Global Government Surveillance Reform site explains that "While the undersigned companies understand that governments need to take action to protect their citizens’ safety and security, we strongly believe that current laws and practices need to be reformed."
The original story follows:
New documents released by whistleblower Edward Snowden reveal US and UK spies have the ability to eavesdrop on conversations in Xbox Live, and have even placed agents in games including World of Warcraft and Second Life.
Fresh information released by The Guardian reveals government agents on both sides of the Atlantic have been paying close attention to online gaming communities since at least 2008.
A September 2008 memo from the NSA's UK sister agency GCHQ reveals that the organisation had "successfully been able to get the discussions between different game players on Xbox Live," while agents were put in both World of Warcraft and Second Life in a bid to monitor users' "buddylists and interaction".
While there's no evidence that such methods were successful in foiling any terrorist plots, an analyst apparently referred to them in a report as offering a "target-rich communications network" where potential threats could "hide in plain sight". It was apparently run out the Menwith Hill base in North Yorkshire.
While Microsoft declined to comment on the report, World of Warcraft developer Blizzard told the paper it was "unaware of any surveillance taking place. If it was, it would have been done without our knowledge or permission." GCHQ, meanwhile, didn't confirm or deny the report, only adding the actions were carried out "in accordance with a strict legal and policy framework which ensures that its activities are authorised, necessary and proportionate, and there is rigorous oversight, including from the secretary of state, the interception and intelligence services commissioners and the Intelligence and Security Committee."
