Educafro Brasil filed a public civil action against Google after the platform made the “Game” “Simulador de Escravidão” available in its app store, the Play Store, in which the user can simulate being an owner of enslaved people.
The NGO asks the company to pay compensation in the amount of R$ 100 million for collective moral damages.
Launched on the Play Store on April 20, the application received more than 1,000 downloads and became unavailable around 1:30 pm on Wednesday (24), as reported to CNN Google advisory.
Consumer law specialist Leonardo Amarante, who advises the NGO — which works with professional training in the digital area of the black community — criticized the availability of the Android system store application and considered the offer, in itself, a “racist attitude”.
“This deplorable game reinforces one of the most cowardly chapters in Brazilian history and violates the most cherished fundamental rights enshrined in the Federal Constitution: the rules that protect the honor and dignity of the human person and the rules that protect the black population against racism,” he said. .
According to the petition opened by the NGO, the amount of BRL 100 million claimed in compensation for Google considers “the nature of in re ipsa of collective moral damage [quando o dano é presumido e não necessita de provas] and its punitive-pedagogical character”.
On Wednesday (24), the Federal Public Prosecutor’s Office instituted a procedure to investigate the “game” and asked Google for clarification.
When contacted by the report, Google stated that it has nothing to comment on Educafro’s action, but, in a note, it reaffirmed that the game has already been removed from the platform and said that users should report applications that are in disagreement with its policies.
“We do not allow apps that promote violence or incite hatred against individuals or groups based on race or ethnic origin, or that depict or promote gratuitous violence or other dangerous activities,” the company said in a statement.
“Anyone who believes they have found an app that violates our rules can file a report. When we identify a policy violation, we take appropriate action. And in severe cases, we may take stricter measures, including banning the developer from publishing new apps on Google Play.”
How the simulator worked
The responsible producer, Magnus Games, stated in the application that the user was able to “exchange, buy and sell slaves”.
“Choose one of two objectives at the start of the slave owner simulator: the Path of the Tyrant or the Path of the Liberator. Become a wealthy slave owner or achieve the abolition of slavery. Everything is in your hands”, wrote the description made by the company.
In one of the modalities offered, the description was made: “Use slaves for your own enrichment. Prevent the abolition of slavery and accumulate a certain amount of money.”
Magnus Games claims that the “game was created solely for entertainment purposes”. “Our studio condemns slavery in any form. All game content is fictional and not tied to specific historical events. All coincidences are accidental”, writes the application notification, as shown in the image below.
A CNN also contacted the Brazilian Association of Game Developers (Abragames). In a statement, the association said it condemned any conduct, speeches or initiatives that go beyond respect for human dignity and hurt the honor of individuals or groups, including in games.
A CNN tries to contact the developer Magnus Games.
Source: CNN Brasil
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