Homeland Security’s Investigation of Video Games

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Lydia Brady, Reporter

As the popularity of video games is at its height, the federal agency, Department of Homeland Security in the United States, has decided to investigate the “radicalization” caused by them. Homeland Security is planning to spend $700k on this research and investigation. Many adolescents depend on video games for entertainment and even the growth of their relationships and personal identities. Homeland Security believes that extremists are using this adolescent fixation on video games to spread propaganda and their own ideologies. 

This investigation is not limited to video games with large communities as gaming studios of all sizes will be investigated. The announcement introducing this examination claimed that video game studios are “not fully educated on how these extremists may try to exploit their games in an effort to radicalize the players.” One main reason for this exploration is the existence of groups on a popular gaming platform and store called Steam, that openly support Neo-Nazi beliefs and nationalist ideas. Some popular video games are becoming more invested in this investigation and the attempt to remove any possible propaganda in their games than other gaming studios. One example of this is the infamous video game Minecraft, which since 2009 has been trying to open up a world of imagination to people of all ages. Mojang, the game’s studio, has implemented the ability for players to report chat messages made in the game.

While making the internet safe is important, many are wondering why the government is spending so much money on this specific investigation, and not using that money for other causes. There are many other pertinent matters currently going on in the country that could use the excess of money, such as relief efforts for Hurricane Ian and the Fentanyl crisis that is on the rise.

As this particular probe into video games has yet to take place, there is still a great deal of information to be discovered. Video games and their communities should be able to be safe and entertaining environments, considering so many children are present in these communities.