Build a Rocket Boy faces legal action from employees at its MindsEye division after the studio secretly deployed surveillance software on worker devices without consent. The IWGB Game Workers Union announced the lawsuit, alleging the monitoring tool violated data protection regulations and employee rights.
The dispute centers on Teramind, employee monitoring software that Build a Rocket Boy installed on computers belonging to MindsEye staff. Workers discovered the program in February after noticing their machines running slower than usual. The software captures screenshots, screen recordings, keyboard inputs, and logs of web and app activity.
During a company meeting, co-CEO Mark Gerhard confirmed the installation. He framed the decision around concerns about internal sabotage, referencing what he called "the 1% that is the problem" without providing evidence. The company has since removed the software from employee devices.
The union claims Build a Rocket Boy violated data protection law and worker dignity by recording staff in their homes without permission. The monitoring exceeded any legitimate business purpose related to productivity or security, the IWGB argues. Teramind markets itself as software that helps companies "track work time" and "secure sensitive data," but also enables detailed keystroke logging and home surveillance capabilities.
Concerns persist about what personal information the software may have collected before removal. No statement has clarified whether sensitive data was captured, retained, or deleted.
Chris Wilson, lead cinematic animator at MindsEye, released a statement criticizing the studio's management approach. "Build A Rocket Boy's toxic culture of secrecy and micromanaging is one of the worst I've seen in a 20 year career in the gaming industry," Wilson said. He described the surveillance tool as a symptom of deeper workplace distrust that undermines creative work.
This lawsuit is separate from another IWGB legal claim targeting Build a Rocket Boy's handling of mass layoffs last summer. That action follows the departure of roughly 300 staff members after MindsEye's release disappointed commercially. The union alleges the layoff process included unlawful blacklisting and failure to properly consult workers, potentially exposing the studio to millions in damages.
Author Emily Chen: "Installing spyware on your own staff's home computers without consent is a spectacular way to destroy trust and morale, and Build a Rocket Boy is learning that lesson the hard way."
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