Military personnel have been warned they face a court martial and jail if they release secret information in online war games.
The move follows the disclosure that top-secret details have been released at least twice by military personnel in gaming forums.
Last month classified information relating to an RAF combat jet’s radar system was leaked on the War Thunder game platform when a gamer discussed the scanning capabilities of the Eurofighter Typhoons Captor radar – one of the most sophisticated radar systems ever developed.
War Thunder, which is played by gamers around the world, is a free combat game released by Gaijin Entertainment in 2012.
The material was removed and the user was suspended from the game.
In a post on War Thunder, a forum manager warned users of their responsibilities while playing, telling them: ‘I will take this opportunity to again remind everyone here, please do not, under any circumstances, try to post, share any sources unless you are 100 per cent certain they are legally declassified and publicly safe for use.
‘We will never handle or use them, and all it does is actively harm any possible future changes being possible by trying to use them.
‘Do not do it. No good will ever come from it for you or the vehicle you are trying to post for.’
War Thunder, which is played by gamers around the world, is a free combat game released by Gaijin Entertainment in 2012. Pictured: War Thunder
Last month classified information relating to an RAF combat jet’s radar system was leaked on the War Thunder game platform when a gamer discussed the scanning capabilities of the Eurofighter Typhoons Captor radar. Pictured: Stock image
Another gamer released secret information relating to the Challenger 2 tank in 2021.
The gamer, who called himself Challenger 2 Commander, posted a classified document online to improve the accuracy of the design of the tank in the game.
The MoD said: ‘We take the unauthorised release of information very seriously. Any potential breaches are investigated, with penalties for personnel found culpable. In the most serious of cases, this can lead to prosecution.’
The issue has become so serious that it was also raised in Parliament.
Answering a parliamentary question, defence minister Luke Pollard said: ‘Unauthorised release of information endangers our national security and makes protecting the United Kingdom harder.
‘It is contrary to the ethos and policies of the Ministry of Defence, and we take the unauthorised release of information very seriously.’
Former military intelligence officer Colonel Philip Ingram said the problem was sometimes the result of grooming by foreign spies, adding: ‘Classified material being leaked on to realistic gaming sites is becoming an increasing problem.
‘Those who fall victim to this are either naive individuals trying to boast or more worryingly they are being groomed by hostile intelligence agencies to give away our secrets. This happens.’
He added: ‘I hope the MoD addresses this very real and growing series of online threats.’
