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Anonymous threatens Zynga

Hacking group targets social gaming company for "outrageous treatment" of employees and developers; claims it will release confidential info Nov. 5 if demands are not met.

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Anonymous has chosen its next target: Zynga. In a post to the hacking group's official channel, one Anonymous member threatened the social gaming studio for its "outrageous treatment of employees and actions against many developers."

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The note goes on to claim that Zynga is currently planning a "massive layoff" scheme that will mark the "end of the U.S. game market as we know it." According to the post, if Zynga does not cease its plan, Anonymous will release confidential documents concerning the company.

The Anonymous user gave Zynga a deadline of November 5.

Additionally, the Anonymous writer claims to have lifted several Zynga games from the company's servers, and will release these titles publicly for free to make a point.

Last week, Zynga shed 5 percent of its total workforce in a move that saw the company's entire Cambridge, Massachusetts office shut down. Additionally, Zynga CEO Mark Pincus said the company was sunsetting 13 titles as part of the new plan.

Anonymous is not the only group that has Zynga in its sights. Big-time publisher Electronic Arts is currently suing Zynga, claiming The Ville is a Sims Social clone. Zynga has countersued, calling EA's copyright infringement suit baseless.

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