Build a Rocket Boy Sued Over Secret Surveillance Software

Employees at Build a Rocket Boy, the studio behind the video game MindsEye, have filed legal action against the company, alleging violations of data protection laws through the secret installation of surveillance software on their work devices. The lawsuit, initiated by members of the Independent Workers Union of Great Britain Game Workers Branch, claims the software infringed on workers' privacy by monitoring them without consent, including in their homes.

The software in question, Teramind, was installed on employees' PCs earlier this year without their knowledge, according to union representatives. It tracks keystrokes, records screen activity, and captures microphone audio, functions the union described as exceeding any legitimate need for productivity monitoring or security. Staff discovered the program in February when their systems began running slower than usual. Following a collective grievance signed by more than 40 employees, the company removed Teramind from the devices in March. However, Build a Rocket Boy has refused to disclose what data was collected, how it was stored, or the reasons for its installation.

In a statement, the IWGB Game Workers Union asserted that...