The Brazilian Public Prosecutor’s Office has launched an investigation into a game that was removed from Google’s Play Store due to criticism. The game in question allowed the user to pretend to be a slave owner, which generated great controversy in the country. The Prosecutor’s Office has announced that it will investigate possible criminal action related to the game.
According to the description provided by the Prosecutor’s Office, the game allows the user to assume the role of a slave owner and make decisions such as making profits, preventing escapes and rebellions, or fighting for freedom and the abolition of slavery. The game includes options for aggression and torture towards enslaved black people, who are depicted in rags and chains, while white owners wear fancy clothes.
The app, developed by Magnus Games, was launched on April 20 and has been downloaded more than 1,000 times with more than 70,000 ratings.
The prosecution has asked Google to provide specific information about the game. The game’s producer claimed that it was created for entertainment purposes and that it condemned real-world slavery.
Google, after removing the game from its store, said in a statement that its rules do not allow apps to promote violence or incite hatred based on people’s race or ethnicity. The company invited users to report any apps that violated these rules.
The game has generated great outrage in Brazil, especially among those who believe it perpetuates the structural racism that still exists in the country. Brazil was the last country in the Americas to abolish slavery in 1888, but it still faces challenges related to racism and slave-like labor exploitation.