Build A Rocket Boy lawsuit opens dual legal front over surveillance and mass layoffs
Summary
IWGB Game Workers Union members filed two legal claims against Build A Rocket Boy (BARB) on April 12, 2026
One claim alleges data privacy violations from covert Teramind surveillance software on employee home devices
The second alleges unlawful blacklisting and failure to consult during ~300 redundancies last summer
IWGB says the redundancy claim alone "could cost BARB millions" if successful
"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"
01
Teramind installed without consent, then removed without disclosure
Teramind tracked keystrokes, screen activity, and microphone audio on employee home devices
BARB bosses Mark Gerhard and Leslie Benzies confirmed in a leaked internal meeting that Teramind was installed without workers' knowledge
40 workers signed a collective grievance; BARB removed the software in March
BARB has refused to disclose what data was collected, how it was stored, or why Teramind was installed
IWGB alleges the monitoring violates UK data protection laws by recording individuals in their homes without consent
02
Redundancy claim targets blacklisting and consultation failures
The second claim covers ~300 redundancies from last summer
Allegations include unlawful blacklisting, detriment, and failure to engage in collective consultation
IWGB explicitly stated this claim "could cost BARB millions" if successful
BARB simultaneously announced fresh layoffs while citing allegations of "corporate sabotage"
Running dual claims multiplies legal costs and reputational exposure for a pre-revenue studio
03
Documented pattern predates the lawsuit
IWGB members published an open letter in October 2025 accusing leadership of corrosive mismanagement
BARB conceded the Teramind removal demand but refused transparency on collected data
This signals a minimal-disclosure posture that could complicate legal defense under UK employment law
Events
Companies
Games
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United Kingdom
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