In perhaps the strangest political move this political analyst has heard of, North Korea's much-maligned leader has dispatched gamers (called 'gold-farmers') in order to collect virtual loot, sell it on international black markets and ultimately raise money for the country's nuclear program and for Kim Jong-Il's ostentatious lifestyle. Strange, isn't it?
Allegedly, these gold-farmers constitute a special division in the North Korean military tasked with raising funds for the nation's decrepit economy. However, upon amassing over $6 million rather quickly, other illegal endeavors were sacrificed in favor of the low risk presented by killing virtual enemies, collecting their gold and pawning it to other gamers via virtual markets. These gold-farmers work in shifts around the clock and are supposedly stationed in a secret base in Northern China -- apparently, the bandwidth speeds there are amazing!
The virtual world is growing in relevance and importance with each passing day. If North Korea has turned virtual communities like World of Warcraft and Lineage into hotbeds of terrorist activity, what's next?
Guerilla Gamer Armies
Online Gold-Farmers Help Fund North Korea's Nuclear Program
Trend Themes
1. Virtual Currency Funding - The use of virtual currency to fund illegal activities is a rising trend in online communities, posing a threat to the virtual economies and raising security concerns for businesses.
2. Gamer Militia - The rise of gamer militias and their use in unconventional military efforts highlight the potential for disruptive innovation in developing new forms of online security and defense systems.
3. Virtual World Security - As virtual worlds become increasingly important to our daily lives, it is essential for businesses to develop innovative security systems to prevent illegal activities and ensure the safety of users.
Industry Implications
1. Online Gaming - The online gaming industry must develop innovative solutions to prevent the use of virtual gold farming and currency for illegal activities.
2. National Security - With the rise of unconventional military efforts using online communities, the national security industry must develop new methods to monitor and prevent the exploitation of virtual economies for funding illegal activities.
3. Cybersecurity - As virtual communities become more important to our daily lives, the cybersecurity industry must develop innovative solutions to protect against virtual threats and ensure the safety of users.