According to the "Daily Telegraph" report, civil servants from the British Ministry of Education will play with the public in "GTA Online" through public funds during 2024 to observe players' social interaction behaviors in the game. The taxpayer-funded project sparked widespread skepticism and criticism when it came to light.
The project is part of an initiative called Policy Lab, which was founded by the previous Conservative government to "reveal impactful insights about the public's real-life experience." According to reports, civil servants entered public battles in GTA Online, participated in game missions, and in the process asked other players about their gaming experiences.
Among their "important conclusions" were that the public "likes to spend time in nightclubs or on yachts" and likes to socialize while "driving around" - information that could easily be gleaned from a quick look at Reddit forums or gaming community comments. In addition, the research team conducted focus groups in an attempt to "create an emotionally safe space" in GTA Online, an online game known for its chaotic and "toxic" environment - ironically, the majority of player interactions in the game often end in being blown away by strangers riding "bomb bikes".
A civil servant involved in the project said the activity helped broaden their horizons in social policy, but did not disclose specific details. However, many critics point out that the conclusions reached by the project are almost common sense in the gaming community.
Shadow Cabinet Office minister Mike Wood was scathing about the project: "Hard-working families will be in disbelief that their tax dollars are being used to fund this nonsense."