MindsEye studio faces new legal action over employee surveillance software that workers' union alleges was 'recording individuals in their homes and without their consent'

GamesIndustryMindsEye developer Build a Rocket Boy is facing new legal action filed by the Game Workers branch of the Independent Workers' Union of Great Britain, the largest game worker union in the UK. The union says the installation of surveillance software on employee's PCs without their knowledge, and the company's refusal to disclose the information gleaned from it, violates data protection laws "and the workforce’s basic dignity."

The installation of the Teramind surveillance software was initially reported in February by GamesIndustry, which said the software was put on company PCs without the knowledge of employees and only came to light after staff noticed their systems were running slower than usual.

The software was removed in March after more than 40 BARB employees filed a collective grievance against the company. But the company has refused to disclose what data was collected by the software, how it was stored, or why it was necessary to install the software in the first place.

"The IWGB Game Workers Union, representing the workers, alleges that BARB's use of the software violates both data protection laws and the workforce’s basic dignity, exceeding the legitimate remit of monitoring workers’ productivity or safeguarding the company’s security by recording individuals in their homes and without their consent," the union said in a statement released today.

The union added that the surveillance software "tracks users’ key strokes, records screen activity and captures microphone audio."

"Having borne the brunt of Mark and Leslie’s paranoia, these workers stood up for each other and stood up to bullies in management, forcing them to be accountable for their actions and get rid of Teramind," IWGB Game Workers' Branch chair Spring McParlin said. "Now BARB must meet our demands for data transparency. Their alleged actions are a violation of their employees' rights to privacy.”

Build a Rocket Boy has been embroiled in controversy since even before the launch of MindsEye: Gerhard and Benzies have both claimed the game was the subject of "sabotage" and a disinformation campaign, allegations that Gerhard said earlier this month are now in the hands of authorities in the US and UK.

Employees at the studio tell something of a different story, however, pointing the finger for the game's failure at mismanagement, crunch, and a lack of direction from the top. BARB subsequently laid off hundreds of employees at the studio, which also resulted in legal action filed against it by the IWGB.

As for MindsEye itself, it is indeed a big sloppy mess: The studio has pushed multiple updates since the game's launch which have improved some aspects, but the lack of direction and clarity of design, and a seeming unwilling to say "no" to Benzies, famed for his work at Rockstar, overwhelms it all. MindsEye is entertaining in its own way, and I had a genuine (although largely accidental) good time with it, but it remains a fundamentally flawed, bad game.

BARB declined to comment on the action.