Wired reports that the Pentagon is researching the possibility of terrorist groups working within World of Warcraft, using the MMORPG as a chat room and demo arena for potential terrorist attacks. This is pretty scary, but at the same time...hilarious.
In [a hypothetical scenario], two World of Warcraft players discuss a raid on the "White Keep" inside the "Stonetalon Mountains." The major objective is to set off a "Dragon Fire spell" inside, and make off with "110 Gold and 234 Silver" in treasure. "No one will dance there for a hundred years after this spell is cast," one player, "war_monger," crows.
Except, in this case, the White Keep is at 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue. "Dragon Fire" is an unconventional weapon. And "110 Gold and 234 Silver" tells the plotters how to align the game's map with one of Washington, D.C.
Even if terrorists were using this technology, how could the Pentagon ever monitor it effectively? There are several dozen MMO's, and countless avatar-based chatrooms. Going further, why would they even need an avatar? As long as terrorists use a system of regularly-shifting code words, I don't see how the government could possibly hope to act on this research.
But hey, if terrorists were to start playing WoW, they'd probably get addicted and forget about blowing up buildings. Download the original powerpoint presentation here.
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