Online Harassment
Ongoing coverage on Online Harassment.
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Discussion time: Do you think zone chats in MMOs are forces for good, or evil?
This article discusses the nature of zone chats in Massively Multiplayer Online games, such as World of Warcraft and Final Fantasy 14. While intended to foster community, these chats often devolve into toxic or nonsensical conversations, with specific examples like 'Barrens Chat' and bot-dominated trade channels highlighted. The author questions whether these chats are ultimately a force for good or ill within the gaming community.
FBI Arrests 29-Year-Old Alabama Man After Epic Reported Fortnite Voice Chat Threats
The FBI arrested a 29-year-old man from Alabama after Epic Games reported threats made over Fortnite's voice chat. The individual was apprehended following the report from the game's developer.
Marvel Star Defends God of War Laufey Actress Amid Harassment
Actor Vincent D’Onofrio defended actress Deborah Ann Woll, who voices Laufey in God of War, against an online hate campaign. D'Onofrio called Woll "beautiful and extremely talented" in response to accusations that Santa Monica Studio prioritized "feminism over their jobs." Despite the controversy, God of War Laufey preorders appear to be strong.
Creator of a popular World of Warcraft mod ends development thanks to online harassment
The developer of a popular World of Warcraft HUD plugin, Unhalted Unit Frames, has ceased development due to severe online harassment. The abuse stemmed from unintended bugs in a recent update, leading the developer to state they will no longer deal with such toxicity. This situation highlights the negative impact of online harassment on game communities and mod creators.
GTA 5 Actor Ned Luke Celebrates as Swatting Perpetrator Sentenced to 4 Years
Grand Theft Auto 5 actor Ned Luke has expressed his satisfaction following the sentencing of an individual responsible for swatting incidents. The perpetrator has been sentenced to four years in prison for their actions.
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A player named Bowie Knife99 is reportedly terrorizing other players in Forza Horizon 5 on PC. This behavior highlights ongoing issues with online harassment in multiplayer gaming environments.
Marathon Voice Actor Hits Back at Online Trolls and Says 'People Just Want to Hate'
Voice actor Elias Toufexis has addressed the online criticism surrounding the game Marathon, suggesting that people are simply looking for reasons to be negative. He noted that Bungie's focus on Marathon has led to some backlash from Destiny 2 players.
Australian eSafety Commissioner issues transparency notices to major game platforms
The Australian eSafety Commissioner has issued transparency notices to major gaming platforms like Roblox, Minecraft, Fortnite, and Steam. These notices demand explanations on how the platforms address child grooming, radicalization, cyberbullying, and online hate, with potential fines of up to $49.5 million for non-compliance. This action follows concerns about negative impacts on children and specific incidents reported on these platforms.
Square Enix forces anonymous FF14 harasser to pay compensation after court order
Square Enix has taken legal action against a player who harassed its developers online, forcing them to issue an apology and pay compensation. The company obtained a court order to deanonymize the user who posted damaging content on a video-sharing site. Square Enix stated they will continue to take strict measures, including legal action, against all malicious acts of harassment.
Sakit Hati Dituding Gagal Oplas, Rossa Somasi Puluhan Akun Medsos
Singer Rossa's management has issued a legal notice to dozens of social media accounts accused of spreading defamatory content and manipulating videos and photos of the artist. The legal team is demanding the removal of the content and public apologies within 24 hours, threatening legal action under Indonesia's Electronic Information and Transactions Law if the demands are not met.
The Real Cost of Toxic Gaming: What the Data Actually Shows
A significant majority of online multiplayer gamers experience harassment, with data showing 76% of American adults facing it in a six-month period. This toxicity disproportionately affects marginalized groups and has substantial negative impacts on player behavior, spending, and mental health, representing a considerable business cost for the gaming industry. While moderation tools are improving, widespread deployment is needed to effectively combat these issues.
Introducing the TAG Community Safety Score: Rating Games on What Actually Matters
The TAG Community Safety Score has been introduced to evaluate multiplayer games based on their community safety infrastructure, including moderation, transparency, and player controls, rather than just traditional game quality metrics. The article details the scoring methodology across eight dimensions and provides initial scores for eight major titles, highlighting strengths and weaknesses in their approaches to online safety and player well-being.
Square-Enix forced a Final Fantasy XIV website offline, accusing it of ‘excessive harassment’
Square Enix has forced the closure of a Final Fantasy XIV fan news website, Netoge News, due to 'excessive harassment' of its staff. The website operator agreed to close the blog, issue an apology, and pay a settlement after receiving a demand from Square Enix. The exact nature of the harassment remains unconfirmed, with speculation pointing to doxxing or criticism of specific staff members like Tetsuya Nomura or Naoki Yoshida.
Australian government calls for action from Roblox on "untenable" child safety concerns
The Australian Government, through Communications Minister Anika Wells and eSafety Commissioner Julie Inman Grant, has formally requested Roblox address serious concerns regarding child exploitation, grooming, and exposure to harmful content on its platform. Roblox has responded by detailing its safety policies and cooperation with law enforcement, emphasizing its ongoing commitment to user protection.
