Recently, thousands of loyal players of the Call of Duty franchise have been hit with permanent bans for going “AFK” (Away From Keyboard) during certain game modes like Plunder.

To someone outside of gaming, this may sound like a small issue. But it’s not. It’s about fair treatment, transparency, and consumer rights.

What Happened
For years, players have used AFK methods in Plunder to passively earn progression. This was not a secret exploit. It was a widespread and openly known practice that Activision—the publisher of Call of Duty—chose not to punish. Their own Terms of Service on “boosting” never changed throughout these years.

Now, without any notice or prior warning, Activision has permanently banned long-time loyal players for this very behavior. No temporary suspensions. No warnings. Just immediate permanent bans.

And here’s why that’s deeply concerning:

Many banned players have never cheated, hacked, or used illegitimate means to gain an advantage.
Years of playtime, purchases, and hundreds of dollars invested into the franchise are being erased overnight.
No appeals are being considered fairly. Activision’s security team is issuing blanket permanent bans without context or second chances.

Why This Matters
This is not only about gamers. This is about how companies treat their customers.

• Imagine buying a product for years, investing both time and money into it, only to have access taken away without warning.
• Imagine being punished more harshly than the company’s own rules state (permanent bans instead of temporary suspensions for a first offense).
• Imagine no customer support that actually listens, no fair appeals process, and no accountability.

This sets a dangerous precedent for digital ownership. If companies can revoke access to your purchased products instantly and without fair warning, what rights do consumers really have?

What We’re Asking For
We’re not asking for AFK play to be excused forever. We’re asking for fairness and proportionality:

We, the undersigned, demand that Activision and Treyarch:

• Give warnings or temporary suspensions for first-time offenses, in line with Activision’s own Terms of Service.
• Send out clear communication about what is or isn’t allowed.
• Put in a fair and transparent appeals process where loyal players can prove they are not cheaters or account sellers.
• Review recent AFK-related bans and reinstate innocent players.
  Differentiate between AFK behavior and hacking in the enforcement system.
• Provide transparency in how ban decisions are made and allow fair appeals.
• Implement warnings or temporary suspensions before permanent bans in minor cases.

Why Sign This Petition?
Whether you’re a gamer or not, this is about consumer fairness. Companies should not be allowed to:

• Take away years of purchases and progress without warning.
• Ignore their own policies.
• Issue blanket punishments that harm loyal customers more than bad actors.

By signing, you stand for fair treatment, accountability, and the basic rights of consumers in the digital age.

We are dedicated fans who have invested countless hours and money into the game. We deserve fair treatment—not permanent bans for being AFK.

Sign this petition to urge Activision to reinstate unfairly banned accounts and implement a transparent, fair approach to player enforcement.