The IWGB union has filed a lawsuit against Build a Rocket Boy (BARB) for the installation of surveillance software on employees’ PCs without their consent, which, according to the union, violates data protection laws and privacy rights. The Teramind software, which monitors keystrokes, screen activity, and microphone audio, was installed without the workers’ knowledge, who noticed unusually slow performance on their systems.
Completely unacceptable espionage
The controversy erupted when more than 40 BARB employees filed a collective complaint regarding the installation of the software, which was removed in March. Despite this, the company has kept secret what data was collected and how it was stored, raising concerns about transparency and the protection of workers’ dignity. “These actions violate employees’ right to privacy,” said Spring McParlin, president of the IWGB workers’ branch.
The landscape at BARB has been marked by internal criticism and a difficult work environment. Employees blame upper management for the lack of direction in the development of their game MindsEye, with allegations of mismanagement and excessive pressure contributing to the title’s failure. Following recent mass layoffs, the IWGB has taken additional legal action, demanding better working conditions and greater transparency in data management.
Despite the co-founders of BARB claiming to be victims of “sabotage” and misinformation campaigns, employee testimonies suggest deeper internal issues. MindsEye itself has received mixed reviews, being described as a “huge mess” with updates that, while improving some aspects, do not address the lack of a clear design.
