The British Parliament and Video Games

The Culture, Media and Sport Committee of the British Parliament has announced a new inquiry into the potential risks from harmful material on the Internet and in video games. This examination will focus on consumers from all age ranges, not just children or teenagers, as usual.

Here is, according to megagames.com, the list of things to be examined by the Parliament:

"1. The benefits and opportunities offered to consumers, including children and young people, and the economy by technologies such as the Internet, video games and mobile phones.

2. The potential risks to consumers, including children and young people, from exposure to harmful content on the Internet or in video games. The Committee is particularly interested in the potential risks posed by:
- "Cyber bullying";
- user generated content, including content that glorifies guns and gang violence;
- the availability of personal information on social networking sites;
- content that incites racial hatred, extremism or terrorism; and
- content that exhibits extreme pornography or violence.

3. The tools available to consumers and industry that protect people from potentially harmful content on the Internet and in video games.

4. The effectiveness of the existing regulatory regime in helping to manage the potential risks from harmful content on the Internet and in video games."

Studies have been done before and will always be done, as a proof that "society cares". But banning (if it will ever get to that) is not a solution. Thinking that video games can affect a sane person's mental stability is simply... insane (in our opinion). But we can only wait and see what is meant to happen. Sometime in February and March 2008, when the oral evidence session is to be held.

The British Culture, Media and Sport Committee has already started another action of the same type, one that reviews the impact of media violence on children. It seems they really are up to something...

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