Executive Summary
Online video games, often seen as spaces for relaxation and socialisation, have increasingly become a focus of national security concerns. Intelligence agencies have long monitored gaming-affiliated digital platforms for terrorist and espionage-related activity. However, recent incidents—such as the classified data leak to gaming cohorts on Discord by US National Guardsman Jack Teixeira and reports of Russia’s SVR developing games to push pro-Russian narratives among African youth—highlight the growing risks of gaming platform exploitation.
More pressing, however, is the exploitation of gaming platforms by extremists to spread propaganda, recruit, and communicate covertly. The Buffalo (2022) and Christchurch (2019) attackers referenced gaming culture, using shooter aesthetics to frame real-world violence as gameplay. While no direct link exists between gaming and extremist violence, evidence has emerged suggesting these spaces are hotspots for radicalisation.
As gaming becomes more embedded in daily life, the challenge of balancing digital freedoms with security measures grows. Understanding the unique social dynamics of gaming communities is crucial to developing effective counter-extremism strategies while preserving online spaces for legitimate users.
Images Sourced From: PH Museum, LightStream, Nidal Nijm Games,
