FBI arrests Fortnite player over voice chat threats
Epic Games passed recorded in-game voice chat to the FBI, which charged Edward Friths under a federal threats statute.
A 29-year-old Fortnite player in the United States, Edward Friths, has been arrested on suspicion of making threats in in-game voice chat, according to gigazine.net. The FBI's affidavit states that Friths used the username WagesOfNinja.
The reported remarks included statements about wanting to kill someone, intending to become a murderer, and shooting FBI agents who came to his home. An FBI agent said the recordings contained threats to kill police officers and FBI agents, citing 18 U.S.C. § 875(c).
Epic Games passed the recorded voice chat to the FBI, apparently through the voice reporting feature the company introduced in 2023, which lets players share the last five minutes of voice chat with the company.
Friths was arrested and charged two days after the affidavit was written, according to Aftermath, and has pleaded not guilty.
Quick answers
Who was arrested over Fortnite voice chat threats?
Edward Friths, a 29-year-old US Fortnite player who used the username WagesOfNinja, according to the FBI affidavit.
How did the FBI obtain the voice chat recordings?
Epic Games passed the recorded voice chat to the FBI, apparently via the voice reporting feature introduced in 2023.
What charge is involved?
An FBI agent cited 18 U.S.C. § 875(c) in describing threats to kill police officers and FBI agents. Friths has pleaded not guilty.