A new video game aiming to expose “suffocating privacy invasions” carried out by intelligence agencies has drawn some of its inspiration from controversial National Security Agency whistleblower Edward Snowden.
The game, called “Need to Know,” requires players to climb the ranks of the fictional “Department of Liberty,” a government agency seemingly based on the NSA, whose mass surveillance programs Mr. Snowden exposed through leaks in 2013, Newsweek reported.
Players must decide whether to spy on citizens to gain information or leak intel from the department to underground media groups.
The game was developed by Australia-based Monomyth Games. The company hopes to raise $29,000 through crowdfunding to complete the game.
“Electronic surveillance is a huge issue for everyone today, and will only grow more pressing,” the game’s Kickstarter page reads. “Need to Know lets you spy on citizens’ texts, emails, geodata, and much more. How you’ll use this information is where the real excitement (and moral conflict) begins.”
Mr. Snowden acknowledges his role in inspiring the game with a tweet.
“Art imitates life,” he tweeted, with a link to the game’s kickstarter page.
As of Friday afternoon, the page had raised over $9,000.
• Kellan Howell can be reached at khowell@washingtontimes.com.
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