Video games as propaganda.
January 9, 2012
by Mitch Dyer

Following a televised confession to spying on Iran for the Central Intelligence Agency, Amir Mizra Hekmati has been sentenced to death by the Islamic Revolutionary Court. The former United States marine has allegedly admitted to, among other things, spreading American propaganda and misinformation via Kuma Reality Games, a New York-based game developer.

After (working for DARPA), I went to Kuma (Games Company). This computer company was receiving money from the CIA to (produce) and design and distribute for free special movies and games with the aim of manipulating public opinion in the Middle East. The goal of the company in question was to convince the people of Iran and the people of the entire world that whatever the U.S. does in other countries is a good measure.

While his involvement with the CIA remains to be seen, Kotaku has discovered Hekmati did, in fact, work with Kuma on a game for developing language skills. The project was funded by the Department of Defense.

The US government has outright denounced allegations concerning Hekmati's affiliation. Speaking to The New York Times, Tommy Vietor of the White House's National Security Council said "Allegations that Mr. Hekmati either worked for, or was sent to Iran by the CIA are false. The Iranian regime has a history of falsely accusing people of being spies, of eliciting forced confessions, and of holding innocent Americans for political reasons." Vietor went on to demand Hekmati's release.

IGN has reached out to Kuma Games for comment concerning this situation.

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