Video game developer Brianna Wu is used to receiving insults, rape threats and violent comments through social media each day.
But, when someone hacked into Wu’s company’s finances and even posted her address online, she got scared. On Friday, Wu and her husband left their home in fear for their lives.
Wu, the Head of Development for Giant Spacekat, has always been vocal about the amount of sexism and abusive dialogue females in the gaming industry experience.
She published an exposé in July about the threats she and other female peers receive. Recently, she released Revolution 60, a female-centric mobile game.
#GamerGate is a movement supposedly dedicated to preserving standards of the gaming industry, and it’s quickly picking up speed through discussion boards and threats.
Its perpetrators are often violent and computer-savvy, targeting Wu as one of the many women “ruining” video games.
An anonymous source published Wu’s home address on an 8chan forum, and death threats began pouring in. Wu live-tweeted the experience in an effort to make her fans understand how violent #GamerGate has become.
On Sunday, Wu appeared at her NYC Comic Con panel. She said the threats will not stop her speaking up for women in game development.
Wu has been live-tweeting about the #GamerGate threats she receives.
8chan/#gamergate generated 60 pages of this today attacking me. I’m going on a Twitter break till I feel more safe. pic.twitter.com/A0GYsdJ3KA
— Brianna Wu (@Spacekatgal) October 10, 2014
My message to you is to go fuck yourselves. I’m not going anywhere. — Brianna Wu (@Spacekatgal) October 10, 2014
This is a little harder than your kindergarten logic, but feminists don’t want to eradicate sexuality. We want women portrayed as people. — Brianna Wu (@Spacekatgal) October 10, 2014
8chan/#gamergate just doxxed me, posting all kinds of personal information about me. Guys, THIS is the war on industry women. Wake up. — Brianna Wu (@Spacekatgal) October 11, 2014
And, here’s the part of the night where I call the police. pic.twitter.com/uMByxBEtYz — Brianna Wu (@Spacekatgal) October 11, 2014
The police just came by. Husband and I are going somewhere safe. Remember, #gamergate isn’t about attacking women. pic.twitter.com/ZU6oEVxMGL — Brianna Wu (@Spacekatgal) October 11, 2014
Announcement: I AM NOT GOING ANYWHERE. I am going to keep making games. And I will keep speaking up for women in gamedev. — Brianna Wu (@Spacekatgal) October 11, 2014
I expect to talk to the FBI at some point today. And I’ll still be speaking at NYC Comic-Con on Sunday with @TheMarySue.
— Brianna Wu (@Spacekatgal) October 11, 2014
To the women out there scared to make games because they see this happening, I swear – WE WILL CHANGE THIS CULTURE FOR YOU.
— Brianna Wu (@Spacekatgal) October 11, 2014
I want to be crystal clear – I am scared of the death threats I’ve gotten. I am terrified of the #gamergate blame-the-victim witch hunt. — Brianna Wu (@Spacekatgal) October 11, 2014
Giant Spacekat’s financial accounts are currently being targeted by hackers. — Brianna Wu (@Spacekatgal) October 11, 2014
My biggest fear right now is that I’m going to be known for all this bullshit and not for developing awesome games.
— Brianna Wu (@Spacekatgal) October 12, 2014
H/T: Huffington Post
Read more: http://elitedaily.com/news/world/female-game-developer-forced-leave-home-rape-death-threats/795619/
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