As a former product manager for @ESEA, anti-cheat was a core component of our offering and something we dealt with on a daily basis. Here's a thread with my thoughts on the current @PlayVALORANT discussions going on now:

I feel for the @PlayVALORANT team having to deal with the anti-cheat questions and issues. Dealing with it on a much smaller level with ESEA was not fun, and they have a much bigger spotlight. It's not easy to explain something when withholding information is your best offense.

My take, much like with my time at ESEA, is that it's a needed step to help detect and prevent cheaters in Valorant. That's why @ESEA and @FACEIT do what they do and people pay to prevent cheaters in their games. Both platforms take different but similar approaches, but they work

Riot is trying to tackle what ESEA and FACEIT are doing on a much bigger level and the key part of this is that it's completely optional and those who do not want to risk anything have every right to not want to play. Gameplay integrity is crucial to Valorant's success.

The fog of war stuff is something many game devs have tried and it's hard to get right (impossible?). They will improve it over time, that's what is key about this beta -- it's also giving Riot time to strengthen their anti-cheat across the board, not just in one vulnerable spot.

Something many people need to understand is that just because someone is cheating does not mean they were not detected and won't be banned. Sometimes you have to let a cheater get away with it for a little bit to gather as much information as possible to fully detect a cheat.

Riot is smart, they will have checks and balances to make sure the security of the players is maintained. Yes, there's always the off chance something happens, but many apps or other things you might use today also pose a risk to compromising your information and more.

My final thought is this: I understand people having concerns. It's smart to know what is possible but also understand they are taking steps to make sure you and your information is secure. I will continue to play Valorant, and I hope they continue their nearly impossible battle.