1. Build A Rocket Boy employees have unionized and are taking legal action over alleged unauthorized installation of surveillance software, including keyloggers, on their work and home systems.
2. The company allegedly used the software, Teramind, to monitor employee activity without consent, and refused to disclose data collection details after its removal.
3. The union claims the surveillance violates data protection laws and employee dignity, amidst ongoing disputes over layoffs and workplace culture.
Build A Rocket Boy faces serious allegations over privacy violations
The developers and employees at the studio seem to be having a rough time lately, with accusations flying about illegal spying practices. The employees claim that the management secretly put surveillance programs on their work computers without telling them. These programs, especially a tool called Teramind, allegedly tracked their actions and even recorded them at home, which is causing a big outrage among the staff.
Details about the surveillance practices and employee reactions
People working there mention that the management installed Teramind secretly without getting approval beforehand. This software was used to monitor keystrokes, capture what employees see on their screens, and even record sounds through microphones during their work hours. After a wave of complaints, the company was said to have removed the software in March, but the employees are still angry because they don’t know where the data collected is stored or why it was even installed in the first place.
Union steps in amid growing concerns
The union representing the workers, the IWGB Game Workers Union, is now taking action. They claim that the company’s secretiveness and illegal monitoring break the laws meant to protect workers’ privacy and dignity. The union criticizes that the surveillance went beyond normal security measures, intruding into employees’ personal space at home without their permission, which is a huge violation.
Legal actions and broader workplace issues
Besides the privacy issues, the union filed a separate claim in April, accusing BARB of unfairly handling layoffs last summer. According to them, 300 workers were terminated improperly, and the company is also accused of blacklisting some employees unlawfully and not talking properly during the consultation process. If these claims hold up in court, they could cost Build A Rocket Boy a lot of money, potentially in the millions.
Workplace culture and employee testimonies
One of the visual artists working at BARB shared some insights about the working environment, describing it as extremely toxic, filled with secrecy and micromanagement. He said that such a culture is among the worst he has seen in his two decades working in the game industry, highlighting the serious problems employees face.
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