War Thunder is a popular online game that simulates realistic combat with tanks, planes, and warships. The game boasts of its accuracy and authenticity, but some players have taken it too far by posting sensitive military documents on the game’s forums. These documents reveal technical details and specifications of real-world weapons and vehicles, some of which are still in use by various armed forces. Why did these players leak such information, and what are the consequences of their actions?
The Motive: Winning Arguments
The main reason why some War Thunder players decided to share restricted military documents on the game’s forums was to win arguments about the game’s mechanics and balance. The game developers often update the game with new vehicles and weapons, but not all of them are accurately modeled or represented in the game. Some players, who claim to have access to or knowledge of the real-world counterparts of these vehicles and weapons, try to correct the game’s inaccuracies by providing evidence from official sources. However, some of these sources are not meant to be publicly available, as they contain sensitive information that could compromise the security and effectiveness of the military forces that use them.
For example, in January 2023, a player posted technical documents related to the F-16 fighter jet to prove how the game’s version of the jet was incorrect. The documents were not classified, but they were under the jurisdiction of the International Traffic in Arms Regulations (ITAR), a law that limits the disclosure and transmission of US weapons data and information to foreign individuals, including on the Internet. The post was removed by the forum moderators, who warned the player of the possible legal consequences of his actions.
Another example occurred in July 2021, when a player who identified himself as a tank commander in the British Army leaked several pages from a manual for the Challenger 2 main battle tank. The player wanted to show how the game’s model of the tank was wrong, and he even drew on the pages to highlight the differences. The documents were classified as “UK Restricted”, meaning that they were not supposed to be seen by anyone outside the UK government or military. The post was also deleted by the moderators, who banned the player from the forum.
The Consequences: Legal Trouble and Security Risks
The players who leaked military documents on the War Thunder forums may have thought that they were doing a service to the game and its community, but they were violating the law and endangering the security of the military forces that use the vehicles and weapons they exposed. By posting such information on the internet, they made it accessible to anyone, including potential adversaries, who could use it to gain an advantage or exploit a weakness. Moreover, they could face legal action from the authorities of the countries whose documents they leaked, as they breached the confidentiality and trust that was granted to them.
For instance, the player who leaked the Challenger 2 manual could face prosecution under the UK’s Official Secrets Act, which prohibits the disclosure of any information that is deemed to be harmful to the interests of the UK or its allies. The penalty for such an offense could range from a fine to imprisonment for up to 14 years. The player who leaked the F-16 documents could also face charges under the US’s ITAR, which imposes civil and criminal penalties for unauthorized exports of defense articles and services. The penalty for such an offense could range from a fine of up to $1 million to imprisonment for up to 20 years.
The War Thunder forums leak is not the first time that gamers have exposed military secrets online. In 2017, a player of the game EVE Online leaked a NATO military manual on the game’s subreddit, which contained information on how to counter Russian electronic warfare systems. The player claimed that he found the manual on a USB drive in a library and that he did not know that it was classified. The incident sparked an investigation by NATO and the US Department of Defense, and the player was reportedly contacted by the FBI.
The Lesson: Respect the Rules and the Reality
The War Thunder forums leak shows how some gamers can become obsessed with realism and accuracy in their games, and how they can disregard the rules and the reality of the military world. While it is understandable that some players want to improve the game and its representation of real-world vehicles and weapons, they should not do so at the expense of the security and the legality of the military forces that use them. They should respect the confidentiality and the sensitivity of the information that they have access to or knowledge of, and they should not share it with anyone who is not authorized to see it. They should also remember that the game is not the same as the reality and that there are limits to how realistic and authentic a game can be.
War Thunder is a game that simulates realistic combat, but it is not a simulation of real combat. It is a game that allows players to enjoy the thrill and the challenge of fighting with tanks, planes, and warships, but it is not a game that teaches players how to fight with them. It is a game that features real-world vehicles and weapons, but it is not a game that reveals its secrets. It is a game that is meant to be fun and engaging, but not at the cost of breaking the law and compromising the security. It is a game that should be played with respect and responsibility, not with recklessness and disregard.
