The Uncensored Library is a virtual space in the popular role-playing video game Minecraft. Built by a non-profit organization called Reporters Without Borders, the virtual library gives gamers access to censored books and articles. It houses articles banned in countries like Egypt, Mexico, and Russia to give gamers a haven for press freedom.
Reporters Without Borders collaborated with creative advertising agency DDB to devise the project. The goal is to grant young gamers in countries with stringent press censorship access to the banned material for educational purposes. The library's targetted audience is gamers between the age of 15 and 20 years old. Using blockchain cloud storage, the team prevents governments from surveilling its contents while enabling access to independent journalism for young people.
Image Credit: Reporters Without Borders / Minecraft
Key Themes Behind This Trend
- Virtual Video Game Libraries
- The creation of virtual libraries and educational materials in widely accessible video games offers a new avenue to promote social issues and cultural literacy.
- Blockchain Cloud Storage
- Using blockchain technology for cloud storage offers enhanced privacy and security for sensitive information, creating opportunities for more secure and private virtual spaces.
- Circumventing Censorship Through Gaming
- Gamification has the potential to help circumvent censorship by providing access to uncensored information to those who may not have access in their own communities.
Where This Applies
- Gaming Industry
- Gaming companies have the opportunity to create new virtual spaces promoting social issues and cultural literacy, and to expand their audience by promoting platforms which provide uncensored information.
- Blockchain Technology Industry
- The use of blockchain technology for cloud storage with encrypted data provides an opportunity for more secure, private virtual spaces and could be a valuable technology for future virtual projects.
- Non-profit Industry
- Non-profit organizations working to promote social issues and cultural literacy can leverage gaming technology to reach a wider audience with their message and help circumvent censorship in media.
