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Brianna Wu offered up a reward for people to give her information on the people responsible for her death threats on Twitter. But there’s a serious catch that could come back on those who choose to help the game developer in her quest should they choose to participate.

From a legal standpoint, typically information such as this should be given straight to the authorities, and withholding evidence in this matter could be viewed as interfering in a police investigation, and both Brianna Wu, and the information supplier could be arrested.

Brianna Wu is entitled to be informed of the information through them, after the investigation is done, or during its course if it’s relevant, but not before.

Brianna Wu, the maker of “Revolution 60”. And the founder of Giant Spacekat.

The reason being is she is not a court appointed official, nor is she an officer of the law. She is just a game developer. Furthermore, Her receiving any information would only taint the case, and cause even the most incompetent of lawyers to claim the information was tainted—since she would have previewed it as stated in her reward syllabus.

Death threats, or other forms of harassment rarely end up in convictions unless there is some very compelling evidence that the threat would be carried out. There is really a far cry from internet/verbal harassment and actual assault that would lead to an arrest (and yes, assault can be verbal, but over the phone or the internet isn’t really easy to prosecute).

The chance that any death threat would lead to a conviction is slim to none. They’d be lucky to even get a misdemeanor charge, and more than likely, the case would be pleaded out to probation if the person doesn’t have a criminal record, meaning what? No conviction, which means you wouldn’t get a reward.

This “reward,” is an empty promise on her part, and if anyone does get information, do not give it to her, as she would probably use to doxx or harass her accusers, and because you have no idea how she’ll use it. The entire syllabus is set up so she doesn’t have to pay out, and it’s extremely obvious within the text how she won’t pay you.

She may even release the information to the public, provoking vigilante justice against the person supposedly implicated, which could lead to the person submitting the information, and Wu herself, being accomplices to domestic violence or aggravated assault.

It could also be classified as cyber bullying if she did use the person’s information to harass them as well. If the cases were serious enough, the authorities would already be investigating, and likely would have already found the culprit.

The best explanation of what #GamerGate and #NotYourShield is all about. And how it all started.

However according to the local authorities, Wu never made a police report, and had her harassment cease after she made this reward pitch. Believe me the FBI and Police departments have better hackers, and intel than people think. If there was a real threat Wu, and her friends wouldn’t need to worry.

The truth is, anti-Gamergate have more than enough supporters who would do this for free, and there are those in Gamergate who do nothing but find the people who make threats against both sides, so there is no need for a reward. Wu only has to tweet them to ask for help and give them the pertinent information.

If she were serious about getting justice, she would have done this a while ago. Lastly since WAM is getting involved with Twitter online there are a multitude of online options for her to fight back with. In closing I say to you all leave this issue alone, as Wu’s intentions aren’t the most sound, and she has no idea what she is doing—seriously!

What are your thoughts on the situation with Brianna Wu and Gamergate? Let us know in the comments!

***Disclaimer***
This is a personal opinion of the writer, and it doesn’t necessarily represent the other writers (nor The Gaming Ground´s)
opinions.

Kenay Peterson
The Gaming Ground