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Starting from a violent video game seen in Italy by Commissioner
Frattini, a new hot topic has started to be heavily discussed by
European Union bodies and Member States. Although the self-regulation
measures are already in place for some years, a new approach is pushed
by the Italian Commissioner.
As previously reported by EDRI-gram, the violent video game debate
started in Italy where the Minister of Justice, Mr. Clemente Mastella,
has claimed that it would be advisable to create an "authority" that
would "decide on acceptable standards related to the modalities of
sale" of videogames, after the game "Rule of Rose" appeared on the
market. The debate was extended to the EU level by the Italian
Commissioner for Justice, Freedom and Security Franco Frattini that
sent a letter to all the Internal Affairs Ministries on this topic,
asking them to do something about the "dreadful" glorification of
violence and the "obscene...brutal and perverse" games distributed to
Europe's children.
The first answer came very quickly from the Information Society
Commissioner, Mrs. Reading, that criticized his colleague in harsh
terms: "It is very unfortunate that my services were not pre-consulted
before your letter to the Ministers of Interior was sent out.” She also
reminded that a European self-regulation system for classification of
the violent games - called PEGI (Pan European Gaming Information) - had
already been in place since 2003, strongly backed up by Mrs. Reading.
She emphasized that the system was very similar to the one used for
movies and it was the best solution not to censor the content: "This is
in line with the Commission's view that measures taken to protect
minors and human dignity must be carefully balanced with the
fundamental right to freedom of expression as laid down in the Charter
on Fundamental Rights of the European Union."
Another answer came from the UK Minister of Interior, John Reid that
also presented the PEGI system as a viable solution, if properly
enforced. He added that a retailer could face imprisonment in UK if it
sold violent games to minors.
Italy is not the only country where the violent video games are a hot
topic. A recent event was reported in the western part of Germany where
an 18-year old Counter Strike fan wounded several pupils at a school in
Emsdetten before killing himself. Politicians in Bavaria and Lower
Saxony have promptly reacted by drafting a new law that will fine and
even imprison videogame producers that will create games containing
"cruel violence on humans or human-looking characters."
Frattini has continued his critical remarks on the present system in a
declaration in the European Parliament and called for a
multidisciplinary approach to the problem. He considered that three
components needed to be encouraged: rating of movies and games, media
literacy and technical solutions. Frattini also announced that in the
spring of 2007 he would present to the Parliament a new declaration on
cybercrime.
It is clear, at this point, that the present European system is put
under scrutiny, compliance with the voluntary rating system being
considered as a possible significant problem. This is why EU is
planning a 2007 conference on violent video games, where all the
stakeholders could discuss and eventually agree on the best practices
to follow. The topic will still be present on the agenda of the EU
Justice Ministers meeting in January 2007, when a legislative action
could be initiated.
EU may regulate development and sale of violent video games (15.12.2006)
EU to take UK lead on violent video games (8.12.2006)
Euro commissioners swap slaps in video game row (24.11.2006)
German gamers face jail for acts of virtual violence (12.12.2006)
Franco Frattini - European Commissioner on Justice, Liberty and Security - “Declaration on violent games“ (only in French, 13.12.2006)
EDRI-gram : Italian Minister of Justice proposes an authority for violent videogames (22.10.2006)
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