Rovio denies sharing data with the NSA through ‘Angry Birds’

Yesterday, a New York Times report suggested that Angry Birds may be one of the many ways that organizations like the National Security Agency are able to obtain user data. Now developer Rovio has vehemently denied the idea, saying that “we do not collaborate, collude, or share data with spy agencies anywhere in the world”

While the original report never explicitly stated that Angry Birds was compromised, it did say that the game was among several apps that gave these agencies the ability to obtain user information. Many versions of Angry Birds, like the recently launched Angry Birds Go, are ad-supported, which could potentially allow groups like the NSA to tap into data as it makes its way from the game to advertisers. “Spies could be lurking in the background to snatch data” as you play, the report claimed.

The use of the game’s name has caused Rovio to come out on the offensive, denying that it has worked with these groups willingly. However, the developer did emphasize that it will be re-evaluating its collaboration with advertising services to ensure that user privacy isn’t compromised.

“As the alleged surveillance might be happening through third party advertising networks,” Rovio Entertainment CEO Mikael Hed said, “the most important conversation to be had is how to ensure user privacy is protected while preventing the negative impact on the whole advertising industry and the countless mobile apps that rely on ad networks.”