Politics & Government

Navy Seals Disciplined for Giving Secrets to Video Game Maker

The members of Seal Team Six - known for their role in the killing of Osama bin Laden - allegedly gave classified information to video-game maker Electronic Arts, to make the company's war games more realistic.

When Osama bin Laden was killed, the name "Seal Team Six" became a household name.

But a shadow has fallen on the team's revered status when its members were disciplined for giving away Navy secrets to a leading maker of video games.

According to an online article CBS published Thursday, the seven members of Seal Team Six have been disciplined for giving away classified information to the video game company Electronic Arts (EA), in order to help make their war-themed games more realistic.

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CBS reports that Seal Team Six was employed for two days this past spring and summer as paid consultants on the new game "Medal of Honor: Warfighter," recently released.

EA has a reputation for developing extremely realistic war games. In the company's marketing, it boasts that it hires real commandos, both active and retired, to help achieve such an effect. The seven members of Seal Team Six are are currently still on active duty, and CBS reports that four members that recently transferred out of the team are also under investigation for their roles with the video game maker.

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Though "Medal of Honor: Warfighter" does not recreate the raid on and subsequent killing of Osama bin Laden, it does portray other realistic Seal missions, such as an attack on a pirates' den in Somalia.

CBS reports that the Seals are being disciplined for giving away classified information to the makers of the game, which had been entrusted to them by the U.S. Navy.

The Seals' careers are now reportedly in jeopardy. The seven members have so far all received official letters of reprimand, which effectively removes any chances of promotion, CBS reports. They also had half their pay revoked for two months.

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