The NetWatch Story
NetWatch is a global net policing organization that was established through a treaty and has evolved significantly since its inception.
Formation and Purpose
NetWatch was created as part of a unilateral agreement in the UN treaty and was founded in 2013 by a US/Eurotheatre treaty. Originally established as a European net security company, it transformed into an international agency sponsored by corporations. NetWatch's primary goals include arrest and imprisonment, and it specializes in securing data fortresses and pursuing unlicensed AIs.
Operations and Structure
Based out of London, England, NetWatch works closely with corporations and fights against rival Netrunners. Its Netrunners, known as NetCops, Wolves, Weasels, and The Icemen, are equipped with powerful software to navigate the Net. NetWatch maintains the Blackwall, a barrier of ICE against rogue AIs, and by 2077, one of its goals was to prevent unauthorized access to this barrier.
Corporate Relations and Public Perception
NetWatch oversaw the development of corporate CitiNets during the 2030s and 2040s and is often portrayed in corporate propaganda as defenders of humanity. However, it is also at odds with Night City gangs like the Voodoo Boys.
Historical Context
NetWatch is considered a private United Kingdom security company founded in 1991 and became a worldwide policing agency through a treaty in 2013. The original Cyberpunk 2020 lore includes information about NetWatch, and it has been referenced in various media, including the Cyberpunk RED Core Rulebook published in 2020.