Introduction

MindsEye staff have taken legal action against developer Build a Rocket Boy, after the company allegedly installed secret monitoring software on employees’ devices without their consent. The revelation has raised concerns about privacy and data protection within the company.

The software involved

The software in question, known as Teramind, is a widely used employee-monitoring tool that helps companies track working hours and productivity. It collects data by taking screenshots and logging web and app activity. Build a Rocket Boy employees reportedly discovered Teramind had been installed when their computers began running significantly slower.

Management response

In a recent company meeting, co-CEO Mark Gerhard acknowledged that the software had been installed. He referred to “the 1% that is the problem,” and made unfounded insinuations about some employees allegedly sabotaging the company. The comments created an unwelcome atmosphere within the team and increased tensions among staff.

Removal of the software

Although Teramind has now been removed from employees’ devices, concerns remain over what sensitive data may have been collected. It is still unclear whether the use of the software complied with applicable data protection laws.

Legacy and consequences

The legal action from MindsEye staff is not the only lawsuit Build a Rocket Boy is currently facing. The IWGB Game Workers Union previously filed a complaint related to mass layoffs in the summer of 2022, involving around 300 employees. Those layoffs followed the disappointing release of a recent MindsEye game.

The IWGB has alleged that the dismissal process involved unlawful practices, including