What’s better than forbidden knowledge? …Forbidden knowledge with loophole access via a video game.
In the world of Minecraft v1.14.4 on the 12th of March 2020, the grand opening of The Uncensored Library took place.
As we all know, the media is controlled by “Them”, the Them that are always watching, always listening and no matter how one tries, if They don’t want the truth to be revealed then They will censor and manipulate all as They need to.
However, there are a select bunch that are adamant on getting the real stories, the truth, out there. So why not find a loophole to publicizing banned media through a worldwide video game server? #TruthFindsAWay

Why was a pixelated video game chosen to be the treasure chest of banned journalism?
Firstly, what is Minecraft? In a nutshell, Minecraft is a sandbox video game with voxel-like graphics (voxels are basically 3D pixels). Being in the sandbox genre, there isn’t really a storyline or aim to the game; your main focus is to create, explore and survive. Minecraft is also one of the largest game universes as well as one of the most popular games in the world with well over 238 million copies sold as of July 2021.
Minecraft has a variety of play modes including various multiplayer options; one of these multiplayer options includes over servers which can easily be created on a worldwide level and because Minecraft is, well, Minecraft (it’s also seen as an educational game so it’s quite widely encouraged) it’s available pretty much worldwide.

Which is why this option was the choice of play for creators BlockWorks, DDB Berlin, and MediaMonks when creating The Uncensored Library alongside RSF (Reporters Without Borders).
By creating this server, Reporters Without Borders was able to release The Uncensored Library across the lands to circumvent censored journalism in a number of countries. These virtual books can be freely written and have up to 100 pages, they can be read as regular books in both English and the corresponding native language and cannot be edited by any unauthorized entities.
“In many countries around the world, there is no free access to information. Web- sites are blocked, independent newspapers are banned and the press is controlled by the state. Young people grow up without being able to form their own opinions. By using Minecraft, the world’s most popular computer game, as a medium, we give them access to independent information. “- Christian Mihr, Managing Director Reporters Without Borders Germany.

What is The Uncensored Library?
The Uncensored Library is just that, a library filled with censored journalism; and presented to us on a silver platter as pure, uncensored, genuine news that many countries have banned from being released for any number of reasons. In order for this to be kept as a safe haven for the delicate information within, the teams have used blockchain cloud storage to prevent government surveillance. You’re also able to download an offline map which gets stored on a decentralized blockchain cloud storage, which is near impossible to hack.
The structural design is based off of neoclassical architecture, a style based off of the 18th century and typically used as the design basis for museums, galleries, monumental libraries, and so on. Examples of a few famous structures that you could also identify as neoclassical design include Chiswick House, The Pantheon, Buckingham Palace, and the Academy of Athens.
It took about three months, over 250 hours actually, with over 12.5 million blocks and 24 builders from 16 different countries to create this masterpiece. The Dome of the library is near 300 metres in diameter, making it the second largest in the world.
“The Uncensored Library is a bold use of Minecraft. It really encapsulates everything that is great about this game and the community it has created” – James Delaney, Managing Director BlockWorks, Architect of the Uncensored Library.
RSF had approached Blockworks with their new plan to reach their target audience. About two years prior to this, DDB Berlin had released an Uncensored Playlist through Spotify for this very same reason. So this goes to show that this isn’t just another slap-together ploy just to keep busy and pique interest, this is an ongoing battle that RSF are dedicated to overcoming.

At the moment there are rooms for Russia, Egypt, Saudi Arabia, Mexico, and Vietnam; as well as a reception, the main Dome, and even a whole Covid-19 based room. There’s also documentation for areas of Asia-Pacific, Middle-East North Africa, Europe, Central Asia, parts of the Americas, and any bits of other snippets that can be nudged in.
Not only is this an astounding feat that has been achieved, with thousands upon thousands of books for banned journalism, they’ve even gone to the extent of honouring those who have lost their lives to the truth, for fighting to reveal what they had discovered and refused to back down. There are memorials in the relevant countries’ rooms to these unsung heroes and even symbolic acknowledgments for the main struggles that journalists face in each country.
Built into the floor is a world map which is based on the RSF Press Freedom Index, ranking up to 180 countries on their censorship status, and the Dome also boasts the flags of each of these countries.
“Behind them, we’ve got information about the press freedom situation in that country, “The first thing people do when they come onto the server is look at the map and go straight to their country. It’s a good way to introduce people. A lot of this is about starting a conversation. It’s aimed at young people who wouldn’t normally engage with this, but giving them the opportunity to read up on press freedom in their own country gives them an in.“– James Delaney
Just three days after the grand opening in 2020 the server experienced a slight crash due to the sheer quantity of eager players wanting to drown themselves in what’s been kept from them for so long; and thereafter the next day, just four days after the initial launch, the library had already reached 175 countries including each of the main target countries.
“We have huge audiences in Russia and Mexico. They were actually queuing to get in. We did a server upgrade to handle the visitors, and also doubled the amount of censored books to provide more information.” – Tobi Natterer, DDB Senior Creative.