Build A Rocket Boy Hit with Legal Action Over Alleged Surveillance Software Installation

Image: Mindseye

Build A Rocket Boy (BARB), the studio behind MindsEye, is now facing legal proceedings from its own employees over claims that "invasive" monitoring software was secretly installed on their work devices.

The legal action is being led by members of the IWGB Game Workers Union, who allege that the studio installed employee surveillance software called Teramind onto work hardware without informing or getting consent from the workers. Since many of these devices were used at home, the situation raises serious concerns about privacy violations that go well beyond a standard workplace monitoring scenario.

According to the IWGB, the software was capable of tracking keystrokes, recording screen activity, and even capturing microphone audio. The union described the installation as a clear breach of both "data protection laws and basic worker dignity."

Word about Teramind reportedly spread after employees noticed their devices slowing down. The situation came to a head when an internal meeting, led by co-CEO Mark Gerhard, was leaked. In that meeting, Gerhard reportedly confirmed the software had been installed, justifying it by saying the studio needed to deal with a problematic minority. "I think it goes without saying that we can trust 99.9 percent of this business," Gerhard is quoted as saying. "The problem is it's the one percent. That is the problem."

After 40 workers signed a collective grievance in March 2026, BARB did eventually remove Teramind from employee devices. However, the union says the studio refused to address the bigger questions, such as what data was collected, how it was stored, and why the software was installed in the first place. That lack of transparency is what pushed the matter into legal territory.

Chris Wilson, lead cinematic animator at Build A Rocket Boy and an IWGB member, shares his thoughts. "Build A Rocket Boy's toxic culture of secrecy and micromanaging is one of the worst I've seen in a 20-year career in the gaming industry," said Wilson. "While they have conceded to our headline demand of removing Teramind from our devices, many questions still remain about their actions. It can only be assumed this software was added as a part of their effort to micromanage us, a product of their mistrust of their employees. It created an atmosphere of unease, something that doesn't lead to great video game production."

Spring McParlin Jones, chair of the IWGB Game Workers Branch, also weighed in. "Having borne the brunt of Mark and Leslie's paranoia, these workers stood up for each other and stood up to bullies in management, forcing them to be accountable for their actions and get rid of Teramind," she said.

This is actually the second legal front BARB is currently dealing with. Separate legal claims were filed on April 12, 2026, related to what the union describes as a "mishandling of a redundancy process" that led to roughly 300 employees being let go back in June 2025. Those claims include allegations of unlawful blacklisting, failure to engage in collective consultations, and detrimental treatment of workers. The IWGB has stated that if successful, those claims "could cost BARB millions."

On the surveillance matter specifically, the union is now escalating through the UK's Advisory, Conciliation and Arbitration Service, as well as the Information Commissioner's Office, the body responsible for upholding data protection laws in the UK.

This latest development adds to what has been a rough stretch for the studio. BARB recently parted ways with IOI Partners and is now handling its own publishing responsibilities for its troubled project, Mindseye.