NetWatch was created as part of a unilateral agreement in the UN treaty. It is empowered to protect and serve the law abiding citizens of the World Communications Network ...
— The NetWatch Story, A DMS Production, Cyberpunk 2020
NetWatch is a worldwide Net policing organization based out of London, England. Its initial focus was to patrol the Net in order to prevent illegal activity. After the DataKrash, it tried to contain dangerous AIs and secure what it could from the Old NET. It works closely with corporations and often fights against rival Netrunners.
Overview[]
NetWatch originated as a London-based private security corporation focused on combating rogue hackers and computer criminals in service of corporate contracts.[1] Thanks to EC lobbying, Netwatch gained a tenuous global charter under the United Nations 2013 through a US/Eurotheatre treaty. It works in tandem with and receives funding, equipment, and personnel from governments, corporations, and other large organizations to patrol the Net and prevent cybercrimes. The organization's Netrunners, known as NetCops, Wolves, Weasels, and The Icemen, were equipped with very powerful software to move through the Net, and would patrol specific "beats", which could cover a city, region, or continent. While arrest and imprisonment were the primary goals of NetWatch, it was also known to use Black ICE programs to kill or maim their opposition.[2][3]
In 2025, NetWatch declared the Net to be officially down.[4] After the collapse of the Old NET due to the DataKrash, during the 2030s and 2040s NetWatch oversaw the development of corporate CitiNets, local VPNs established in Reclaimed Cities. At the same time, in 2044, it made contact with AIs that had managed to survive rogue malware known as R.A.B.I.D.s in order to work together on getting the Old NET under control. The project did not exist in any official books or records, and was known only as "the Black Wall".[3]
By 2077, one of NetWatch's goals included keeping people from penetrating the Blackwall: a virtual firewall, which was believed to keep free AIs from breaking through and causing mayhem. As such, they were at odds with Night City gangs such as the Voodoo Boys, who wished to break down the Blackwall with the belief that the AIs would help them and humanity as a whole.[5]
Database Entry[]
NETWATCH
NetWatch was founded as a European net security company, but its success quickly transformed it into an international agency sponsored by corporations. The "Net Police" specializes in securing data fortresses, pursuing unlicensed AIs, neutralizing hacks, removing software threats and apprehending troublesome netrunners. NetWatch also maintains the Blackwall, a barrier of ICE that guards against rogue, post-Krash AIs. Corporate propaganda likes to portray NetWatch agents as defenders of humanity without which the Net would have long-ago collapsed. The truth is that it's not so hard to become a "public enemy" in the eyes of NetWatch – go head, jack in and read the security protocols sent to every user on the Net. The moment you step over the line, some eager rookie in the nearest NetWatch division will have a file on you in no time.[6]
Notable employees[]
- Main article: List of NetWatch employees
Associated shards[]
Notes[]
- NetWatch's slogan "Vos Videmus" is Latin for "We see you."
References[]
- ↑ ACKERMAN, D. Rache Bartmoss' Guide to the Net. Berkeley, CA, R. Talsorian Games, 1993. (pp.17–8)
- ↑ PONDSMITH, M. Cyberpunk 2020 Core Rulebook. 2nd ed., Berkeley, CA, R. Talsorian Games, 1990. (pp.130–1)
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 PONDSMITH, M. Cyberpunk RED Core Rulebook. Kenmore, WA, R. Talsorian Games, 2020. (pp.239,241,264)
- ↑ Cyberpunk: Edgerunners Mission Kit - Edgerunner's Handbook. Kenmore, WA, R. Talsorian Games, 2024. (p.6)
- ↑ BATYLDA, M. The World of Cyberpunk 2077. 1st ed. Milwaukie, OR, Dark Horse Books, 2020. (p.156)
- ↑ CD Projekt RED. Cyberpunk 2077. Video Game, Multi-Platform. Poland, CD Projekt S.A., 2020.
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