Hamas-inspired video game glorifying October 7 massacre banned in UK

[Claira]

Gaming company Valve Corporation has removed a video game that includes a mission where the player emulates the October 7 attack from its digital gaming marketplace platform "Steam" for users from the United Kingdom at the behest of the UK's Counter-Terrorism Internet Referral Unit (CTIRU).

The game, originally titled "Fursan Al-Aqsa: The Knights of the Al-Aqsa Mosque," was released on the Steam marketplace in 2022. The video game allowed users to play as Palestinian terrorists and go on sprees to kill Israeli soldiers through suicide bombings, beheadings, and more.

https://www.jpost.com/international/article-831854

[+and-then]

Disgusting.

[+susieice]

I'm glad the game was removed. That is disgusting.

[CrimsonKing]

That is sickening, it's disturbing what some create for "entertainment".

[papageorge1]

The game may have a disgusting theme but what about freedom of speech? Not sure I like the government banning idea either.

[preacherman76]

10 minutes ago, papageorge1 said:

The game may have a disgusting theme but what about freedom of speech? Not sure I like the government banning idea either.

That’s mild in the UK. They have been letting violent criminals out of prison to make room for Facebook users who’s comments the government doesn’t like. 

[Arbenol]

30 minutes ago, preacherman76 said:

That’s mild in the UK. They have been letting violent criminals out of prison to make room for Facebook users who’s comments the government doesn’t like. 

Did you just make that up, or did you read it on Twitter?

[Claira]

2 hours ago, papageorge1 said:

The game may have a disgusting theme but what about freedom of speech? Not sure I like the government banning idea either.

There's a significant difference between free speech and violent, extremist online material that may be used as a tool to recruit potential terrorists and incite acts of violence. The game was taken offline in the UK at the request of counterterrorism police citing a possible breach of terrorism legislation. Inciting violence, racial hatred, and support for proscribed organizations is illegal.

[Claira]

4 hours ago, and-then said:

Disgusting.

I've looked into it and it is rather disgusting. Not only does it glorify horrific acts of terrorism (specifically October 7). it is rife with violent and antisemitic content. Not surprisingly, Hamas are not shown hiding behind women and children, nor are they shown scurrying into tunnels to avoid IDF capture.

 

[CrimsonKing]

8 minutes ago, Claira said:

I've looked into it and it is rather disgusting. Not only does it glorify horrific acts of terrorism (specifically October 7). it is rife with violent and antisemitic content. Not surprisingly, Hamas are not shown hiding behind women and children, nor are they shown scurrying into tunnels to avoid IDF capture.

 

Seeing as how the US military is using video games to train troops in some instances, probably not a good idea to let something simulating terror be allowed to the masses.

[Tatetopa]

4 minutes ago, CrimsonKing said:

Seeing as how the US military is using video games to train troops in some instances, probably not a good idea to let something simulating terror be allowed to the masses.

Maybe they should stay. A Chinese mercenary who joined Russia to fight Ukraine has a video that apparently says, "This is not like Call of Duty."   In real life mud and cold are felt, getting wounded hurts a lot, and dead is dead 

If it supposedly trains people what to do, it also gives anti-terrorists an idea of what to expect.  And of course gamers that buy online often leave a digital footprint.  When my kid was young, Grand Theft Auto was forbidden in my house, alerting parents might also help.

[+and-then]

3 hours ago, papageorge1 said:

The game may have a disgusting theme but what about freedom of speech? Not sure I like the government banning idea either.

If nothing is off limits for freedom of speech then why not a "game" where children are stalked and abused?  How about old people being attacked for sport?  Freedom of speech should never include speech that actually calls for or visualizes the killing of innocents.  The world culture has gone from coarse to evil, in many cases.  BTW, this isn't an attack on you, I'm just voicing an opinion.

[CrimsonKing]

Just now, Tatetopa said:

Maybe they should stay. A Chinese mercenary who joined Russia to fight Ukraine has a video that apparently says, "This is not like Call of Duty."   In real life mud and cold are felt, getting wounded hurts a lot, and dead is dead 

If it supposedly trains people what to do, it also gives anti-terrorists an idea of what to expect.  And of course gamers that buy online often leave a digital footprint.  When my kid was young, Grand Theft Auto was forbidden in my house, alerting parents might also help.

Only about 1/3 of the parents I know my age and younger are alert or aware of anything outside their phones... different times Tate.

 

[CrimsonKing]

Just now, and-then said:

If nothing is off limits for freedom of speech then why not a "game" where children are stalked and abused?  How about old people being attacked for sport?  Freedom of speech should never include speech that actually calls for or visualizes the killing of innocents.  The world culture has gone from coarse to evil, in many cases.  BTW, this isn't an attack on you, I'm just voicing an opinion.

No doubt,even one of Stephen King's short stories he personally had removed after Columbine... 

 

[Tatetopa]

11 minutes ago, CrimsonKing said:

Only about 1/3 of the parents I know my age and younger are alert or aware of anything outside their phones... different times Tate.

 

Well, I'm having second thoughts about my suggestion to keep it up then, It was a bad idea.   Steam has freedom of speech, but they also have a large clientele  of all ages that they need to  consider responsibly.  They should take it off their platform. No doubt it will go dark and somebody else will make it available, but it won't be sanctioned by a big gaming provider like Steam, selling it next to Minecraft and Mario Karts.

[Ajay0]

Disgusting stuff. Should be banned world-wide before it incites further terrorist acts elsewhere. 

All violent video games should be banned actually considering the potential risk factor for increased aggression and violence in children .

[Duke Wellington]

9 hours ago, Claira said:

Gaming company Valve Corporation has removed a video game that includes a mission where the player emulates the October 7 attack from its digital gaming marketplace platform "Steam" for users from the United Kingdom at the behest of the UK's Counter-Terrorism Internet Referral Unit (CTIRU).

The game, originally titled "Fursan Al-Aqsa: The Knights of the Al-Aqsa Mosque," was released on the Steam marketplace in 2022. The video game allowed users to play as Palestinian terrorists and go on sprees to kill Israeli soldiers through suicide bombings, beheadings, and more.

https://www.jpost.com/international/article-831854

A simulation offering training to wannabe fundies.

Edited December 4, 2024 by Duke Wellington

[psyche101]

But banning a terrorist act of someone actually stabbing a priest is just fine and overreach to ban it?

What a crazy world. Games must be banned but real life stabbings are freedom of speech. 

[itsnotoutthere]

9 hours ago, Arbenol said:

Did you just make that up, or did you read it on Twitter?

https://unherd.com/newsroom/jailing-brits-for-facebook-posts-isnt-justice/

https://www.spiked-online.com/2024/11/29/pc-police-how-britain-fell-to-the-new-censorship/

Edited December 4, 2024 by itsnotoutthere

[preacherman76]

11 hours ago, Arbenol said:

Did you just make that up, or did you read it on Twitter?

Neither. I’ve watched several videos of cops coming to peoples houses and arresting them for Facebook posts. 
 

Also saw several cases of violent criminals getting released early, or not getting punished at all. Like that guy who raped a 14 year old girl and wasn’t given a day in prison because “he wasn’t aware it was wrong”. 

[itsnotoutthere]

26 minutes ago, preacherman76 said:

Neither. I’ve watched several videos of cops coming to peoples houses and arresting them for Facebook posts. 
 

Also saw several cases of violent criminals getting released early, or not getting punished at all. Like that guy who raped a 14 year old girl and wasn’t given a day in prison because “he wasn’t aware it was wrong”. 

Yes, because it was ok in is culture. They get a lot of that cultural enrichment in Germany as well...especially on new years eve, something for them to look forward to in a couple of weeks.

Edited December 4, 2024 by itsnotoutthere

[Arbenol]

8 hours ago, itsnotoutthere said:

https://unherd.com/newsroom/jailing-brits-for-facebook-posts-isnt-justice/

https://www.spiked-online.com/2024/11/29/pc-police-how-britain-fell-to-the-new-censorship/

 

6 hours ago, preacherman76 said:

Neither. I’ve watched several videos of cops coming to peoples houses and arresting them for Facebook posts. 
 

Also saw several cases of violent criminals getting released early, or not getting punished at all. Like that guy who raped a 14 year old girl and wasn’t given a day in prison because “he wasn’t aware it was wrong”. 

Neither post supports what was said. That violent criminals are being released to "make room" for Facebook offenders.

[itsnotoutthere]

https://www.google.com/amp/s/news.sky.com/story/amp/sir-keir-starmer-angry-to-see-prisoners-popping-champagne-after-their-early-release-13216474

[Arbenol]

9 hours ago, itsnotoutthere said:

https://www.google.com/amp/s/news.sky.com/story/amp/sir-keir-starmer-angry-to-see-prisoners-popping-champagne-after-their-early-release-13216474

And again. Doesn't support the original claim.

[itsnotoutthere]

26 minutes ago, Arbenol said:

And again. Doesn't support the original claim.

Ok let's be honest, whatever you're shown is not going to be enough so we'll stop there.