Trial of TaalGaming

**People v. TaalGaming** (full title: *The People of the Nutribun Empire and Colony of Quiboloy Island v. Bulkang Taal Games*) held on August 6, 2022, at 3:34 PM in the High Court of Quiboloy Island, Quiboloy Island, a colony of the Nutribun Republic, then an empire. The trial revolved around the self-proclaimed "Empire Loyalist" TaalGaming, and it initially involved charges of 2 counts of Illegal Posting of NSFW material. However, as the trial progressed, new evidence and developments came to light, he was also charged of indecent relationship with a minor.

## Background

On July 31, Bulkang Taal Games, known as TaalGaming, posted a screenshot from Facebook. The first post humorously displayed a Facebook profile picture that shows a young man exposing his penis. For this post, TaalGaming received a warning from the server's administrators, as it was deemed to violate content guidelines.

The situation escalated when TaalGaming shared another screenshot from Facebook. This second screenshot featured an image of a woman's back, implying a sexual position colloquially known as "doggy style." Importantly, this post did not contain explicit nudity or graphic content. Despite this, TaalGaming was subsequently placed in Nutriburg City Jail before being transported to the Colony of Quiboloy Island, pending a formal trial. The charges against TaalGames included two counts of Illegal Posting of NSFW material.

In response to the charges, TaalGaming released a statement known as "The Testament of Taal Inc." on August 3, 2022. In this statement, Taal expressed their regret over what they perceived as a miscarriage of justice. They contested the classification of a particular photo as NSFW, arguing that it depicted a well-rehearsed meme photo meant to garner likes. The statement also raised questions about the server's definition of NSFW content and expressed Taal's enduring loyalty to the server.

## #FreeTaalGames Movement

The #FreeTaalGames Movement is a hashtag capaign primarily driven by the actions of a user named TaalGaming. This movement was aimed to secure the release of TaalGames from incarceration, following his arrest and impending trial on charges related to content posted within the server. The movement eventually reached a momentum after Chees3cakezzz, Salamipapii and MEH, who were among the yessssssssdd's cronies and are the founding fathers of the server, decided to support the movement. This was intended as part of Salamipapii and MEH's information warfare campaign against LeniRobredoGaming due to the latter's anti-NSFW ideology and perceived influence on the server. TaalGames had been imprisoned for sharing explicit content, a violation of LeniRobredoGaming's anti-NSFW policies. They engaged in information warfare tactics, which included coordinated efforts to further the #FreeTaalGames Movement by posting memes in the subreddit itself despite some of the members of the subreddit does not know what is happening on the server, but despite their ignorance they still threw their support to TaalGaming due to his name being found as funny by the members. Their actions aimed to fuel dissent within the community. While appearing aligned with the movement's goals, as it aimed to undermine LeniRobredoGaming's authority and policies while advocating for the release of a user banned for explicit content sharing, Salami and MEH's support was viewed by some as a form of trolling.

Amid the ongoing #FreeTaalGames Movement, evidence emerged suggesting that TaalGames had been involved in an inappropriate relationship with a minor. In light of the evidence and the ethical concerns it raised, Salami, MEH, and others chose to withdraw their support from the #FreeTaalGames Movement. Their decision was driven by a desire to distance themselves from the controversy surrounding TaalGames' conduct. The revelation of this evidence had a profound impact on public perception. Supporters of the movement, who had initially rallied behind TaalGames eventually rallied against it. The withdrawal of support from prominent individuals significantly impacted the movement's momentum and credibility. Without the backing of influential figures, the movement lost much of its persuasive power within the community. Ultimately, the #FreeTaalGames Movement experienced a decline in support and influence, leading to its eventual dissolution. The movement, once launched to advocate for TaalGames' release and challenge LeniRobredoGaming's policies, was no longer a prominent force within the community.

## Trial

### Prosecution

The prosecution in the TaalGames Trial presented compelling evidence to support their case against TaalGames. This evidence included screenshots of the Facebook posts made by TaalGames, which were deemed NSFW (Not Safe for Work) material. The prosecution's aim was to prove that these posts violated community guidelines and the server's rules. They argued that TaalGames had knowingly violated the server's policies by posting explicit content, leading to the charges against him.

### Defense

The defense, representing TaalGames, argued for his innocence by challenging the charges against him. They presented counterarguments to dispute the allegations and minimize the severity of the accusations. The defense contended that the first post, should not have been included in the sentence. They argued that since TaalGames had received only a warning for this post, it should not have been considered part of the charges. They further asserted that the second post, showing a Facebook post of a woman's well-arched back, did not meet the criteria for NSFW material. They argued that this post was not censored, was not flagged by Facebook itself, and was intended as a humorous post to gain likes. The defense downplayed the incident, highlighting that it had received significant scrutiny that it may not have warranted. They presented character testimony, highlighting TaalGames' loyalty to the server and his unwavering support for the empire. They aimed to portray him as a responsible and respected member of the community. Additionally, they challenged the jurisdiction of the colony in which the trial was being held, arguing that the crime occurred on the mainland and fell outside the colony's jurisdiction.

As the trial progressed, new evidence came to light regarding TaalGames' inappropriate relationship, which had an impact on the proceedings.

## Verdict

The jury was composed of prominent citizens, including Chees3cakezzz, who had previously supported the #FreeTaalGames Movement. Despite her earlier support, she contributed to the decision and TaalGames was eventually sentenced to exile until September and to change his nickname to DarylYapGaming.

## Aftermath

Following the conclusion of the trial, TaalGames made the decision to delete his account. This action had significant consequences, effectively removing his presence from the server and its community. The deletion of his account signaled the end of an era for TaalGames on the platform. The trial also had an unexpected consequence concerning Chees3cakezzz's popularity within the Nutribun Empire. Her role in the trial, including her participation as a juror and her previous involvement in the #FreeTaalGames Movement, garnered increased attention from the server's citizens. Her actions and decisions during the trial process contributed to her growing influence and reputation within the community.