After sparking a wave of indignation and the reaction of the authorities in Brazil, Google removed from its application store a video game called “Slavery Simulator” that allowed to buy, sell and even torture black characters.
The São Paulo Prosecutor’s Office opened an investigation for “hate speech” in this application in Portuguese, which in the middle of the week had more than a thousand downloads in the Playstore store Google, according to the AFP agency.
The participants were advised to “use the slaves to get rich”or “do everything possible to avoid the abolition of slavery, to accumulate money”, within the game produced by a company called “Magnus Games” according to the São Paulo prosecutor’s office.
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In the rules of use of the game, it was clarified that it had been “conceived solely for entertainment purposes” and that its creators “condemn any kind of slavery.”
After having removed the game from its application store, in a statement Google assured that does not allow “applications that promote violence or incite hate against individuals or groups because of their race or ethnic origin”.
For its part, the Brazilian Ministry of Racial Equality claimed to have contacted Google to implement measures that allow a “efficient filter of content containing hate speech, intolerance and racism” and prevent them from spreading “so easily and without moderation,” according to a statement.
“Brazil is one of the main consumers of Google platforms, and having an application that recalls the time of slavery, that rewards those who torture the most and those who sell enslaved people, is a mixture of racism with fascism,” said Rio de Janeiro legislator Renata Souza (PSOL, left).
Google’s relationship with the Brazilian government
Google already clashed with the Brazilian government earlier this month, openly criticizing – with links appearing under its search engine – a Bill that seeks to regulate social networks and online content in Brazil, selected by AFP.
A judge of the supreme court damages the opening of an investigation for “abusive campaign” against the project, which will be voted soon in Congress.
LM / LR
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