Google removes 'Slavery Simulator' game amid outrage in Brazil

Google has removed a highly arguable crippled called Slavery Simulato" from its app store, aft it caused outrage successful Brazil.

The app, which allowed players to "buy and sell" achromatic characters, was launched by Magnus Games connected 20 April.

The crippled was downloaded much than 1,000 times earlier it was removed connected Wednesday, section media reported.

Brazil a state inactive coming to presumption with its bequest of slavery, which was lone abolished successful 1888.

In a statement of the game, the developer boasted that users could "exchange, bargain and merchantability slaves". It besides allowed players to inflict assorted forms of torture connected achromatic characters.

According to images of the game, users were offered a prime to either liberate the enslaved characters oregon "use slaves for your ain enrichment. Prevent the abolition of slavery and accumulate wealth".

At the clip of its removal, the crippled had a standing of 4 retired of 5 stars, with 1 reappraisal reading: "Great crippled to walk the time. But I deliberation it lacked much torture options."

Social media users successful Brazil expressed fury implicit the game, and a fig of salient politicians urged officials to clasp tech companies to a higher standard.

"Blatant racism," tweeted Renata Souza, a achromatic activistic and determination person from Rio de Janeiro.

"The representation illustrating the crippled has a achromatic antheral surrounded by achromatic men. It is absurdly violent. Google and the developer indispensable reply for this transgression of hatred and racism."

And Denise Pessoa, a lawmaker with the governing PT governmental party, wrote connected Twitter: "IT IS ABSURD that a crippled that spreads cruelty and hatred code against achromatic radical is available. Our state was built with the humor of the achromatic population. People were killed, tortured. A 'Slavery Simulator' is nary joke."

The bureau of Brazil's Public Prosecutor said it had opened an probe into however the crippled - called Simulador de Escravidão successful Portuguese - was allowed to beryllium placed connected the Google Play Store, section media reported.

Meanwhile, Brazil's Ministry for Racial equality said it had arranged a gathering with Google to assistance physique "anti-racist contented moderation" policies. It added that the developers would beryllium held legally responsible.

In a connection to the BBC, a Google spokesperson said that the Play Store does not let "apps that beforehand unit oregon incite hatred against individuals oregon groups based connected contention oregon taste origin, oregon that picture oregon beforehand gratuitous unit oregon different unsafe activities".

"When violations are found, we instrumentality due action," it added.

Magnus Games did not respond to a BBC petition for comment, but successful its statement of the crippled the institution said it was "created solely for amusement purposes. Our workplace condemns slavery successful immoderate form.

"All crippled contented is fictional and not tied to circumstantial humanities events. All coincidences are accidental."