Government Clampdown On Violent Video Games Imminent February 10, 2008
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The Government is planning to introduce a games rating system similar to that used with movies and backed by legal enforcement, to stop kids getting their grubby mitts on violent video games.
In details leaked to The Guardian, the new system will make it illegal for stores to sell classified games to underage children. At the moment, only games with uber-violence and sex content require age limits while all those violent martial arts games and the like can often slip under the net. Apparently, those that escape classification account for a whopping 90% of what’s out there. Still, enforcing this on the streets will be a nightmare.
In addition, ministers are in talks with ISPs to see if they can come up with a standardised online filter that would prevent children from accessing unsuitable games, emails or Internet sites. Best of luck with that one.
These leaks come in advance of TV shrink, Tanya Byron’s review of violence and video games for PM Gordon Brown. She’s expected to report officially next month and a new classification system is expected to be top of the list.
Oh yeah, ministers are also expected to advise parents to keep consoles and PCs out of kids bedrooms. You’ll be hard pressed to find a better example than this of closing the gate long after the underage, machete-wielding rugrats have skedaddled.-Martin Lynch
Editor and Contributor | Martin Lynch
Contributor | Tamlin Magee
