Leaked US Government Document Warns Against Violent Extremists on Online Gaming Platforms

A United States government document, which was not intended for public release, was allegedly leaked by reporter Daniel Boguslaw. Within the document, the National Counter Terrorism Center (NCTC) pointed out numerous online video game platforms that could potentially serve as hotbeds for violent extremists. Included in the list are the following: Fortnite, Discord, Steam, Battle.net, PSN, Roblox, Twitch, and Xbox Live. 

Of the outlets provided, Discord had the most check marks, thereby the most vulnerable for hosting the mentioned “nefarious” activities. The platform has text, voice, and video chat with image sharing capabilities, friends lists, and discoverable communities, making for an accessible platform for violent teens.

“Some violent extremist US teens probably play online games or use gaming-affiliated networks and applications, and could use these apps to communicate with like-minded individuals, conduct plotting, or spread terrorist messaging,” the government document reads. 

According to the allegedly leaked document, online gaming platforms have various communication functions, such as text and video messaging; they provided a chart overviewing some of the most popular online games and platforms, highlighting the unique functionality that each provides. 

Boguslaw, the source for the story, believes the document transforms mundane behavior, like playing Fortnite, into an indicator of extremism. The journalist poked fun at the United States government, stating, “This stunning revelation represents the kind of cutting-edge intelligence work that justifies a $20 billion budget.”