British Official Wants EU Crackdown on Kiddie Porn Before Video Games

British Official Wants EU Crackdown on Kiddie Porn Before Video Games

December 5, 2006
Child pornography or video games... which is more of a concern?

It's a ridiculous question. The first is a horror, illegal in every corner of the planet. Games, on the other hand, are a thriving, creative, global entertainment business.

But the European Union seems to be wrestling over which deserves their attention. As reported by the Evening Standard, British Home Secretary John Reid addressed EU members in Brussels. Reid said he agreed that violent video games were a danger, but added most games did not feature objectionable material. Reid also acknowledged the work of the British Board of Film Classification (BBFC) in rating game content. Reid told his EU colleagues:
I am aware that what constitutes unacceptable material differs from country to country in the EU and that it would be extremely difficult to try to impose common standards...

Violent video games are one issue on this spectrum. But I am also concerned about what more we can do to tackle the most extreme and harmful end of the spectrum. In particular I am concerned about child pornography.

Reid was responding to the recent European flap over Rule of Rose, a PS2 horror RPG. An earlier report in The Parliament.com indicated that Reid would back EU efforts to limit children's access to violent video games. The website said that Reid planed to call on EU member countries to model a British law forbidding the sale of adult-themed games to minors.
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Comments

Submitted by dagrak - December 5, 2006 at 8:44 am -0500
Well considering that our system "prevents" (unless you know they ask really nicely or a parent is there) children from accessing games without stopping the rest of us I'd agree with his statement. problem is, as Italy and Germany has shown, other European governments aren't quite as free thinking as ours.

I'll say it again, though I've said it alot here before, our system can tolerate a restriction system. From what I can see at present the states can't (Disagreements on what should be rated what, shops deciding what to sell, hell some Americans got angry apparantly over the message in "Happy Feet" an animated film about penguins!).
Submitted by meep - December 5, 2006 at 9:09 am -0500
Video games and kiddie porn aren't in he same spectrum at all, I don't care how violent the game is.
Submitted by Muetank - December 5, 2006 at 9:15 am -0500
I hope this dosn't turn into another games=pron argument. We've allready had enough of that. I can't undersatnd why their having such a hard time with this problem. Obviously pron is worse, but you know theres that one guy in the back of the room going "Oh noes, teh video games is a trap! must ban in real time for massive damage!"

@dagrak
I havn't seen that thing about people beeing pissed at "happy feet". Is there a link for it?
Submitted by Fojar - December 5, 2006 at 9:16 am -0500
For them to even compare the two is downright disgusting. Child porn causes Immediate psychological harm and social trauma to the victim, while violent video games are not only legal, they are enjoyable and stress relieving activities.
Submitted by dagrak - December 5, 2006 at 9:27 am -0500
@Muetank
http://film.guardian.co.uk/patterson/story/0,,1960806,00.html

I hope that link works

@Everyone
I don't think he really is trying to compare games to child porn I think what he is actually saying is that there are far more horrific and pressing matters then computer games.
Submitted by Fojar - December 5, 2006 at 10:06 am -0500
@dagrak

Yes, I'm glad that they are going after child porn rather then video games, but they shouldn't have even had to take 5 seconds deciding.
Submitted by ElectroDruid - December 5, 2006 at 10:11 am -0500
Seems like he's talking sense to me. The scariest thing about all the attacks on games is that politicians are spending time barking up the wrong trees and ignoring more serious threats. Sounds like John Reid is trying to make sure that the EU get some sense of perspective on what they should and shouldn't be focussing on.

Certain content in games is deemed unacceptable in certain countries, hence the fact he acknowledges that all the EU countries agreeing on what is acceptable is unlikely. The German and Italian governments enforce an outright ban on certain types of content? Well, that's for the voting public of those countries to agree or disagree with. But kiddy porn is recognised as being unacceptable by any country, which is why Reid puts it waaaay on the other end of the spectrum of unacceptable content, and why he is reminding people that those concerned with games should realise that they have bigger fish to fry.
Submitted by dagrak - December 5, 2006 at 10:41 am -0500
@fojar
I think you'll find that was the point he was making, all be it in a more diplomatic way...
Submitted by Siftr - December 5, 2006 at 12:09 pm -0500
In the distorted words of Jack Thompson:
Are all politicians on drugs or what?
Submitted by x(wai)x - December 5, 2006 at 1:23 pm -0500
@Muetank
http://film.guardian.co.uk/patterson/story/0,,1960806,00.html

I hope that link works


I loved the end of that article. "Build a bridge out of them!"
Submitted by GoodRobotUs - December 5, 2006 at 1:24 pm -0500
You will be assimilated... your classification systems will be absorbed into ours.... ;)

To be serious though, I agree that what was being said was not 'Video Games are in the same spectrum as Child Porn', the problem here is the etiquette imposed on Politicians by the Houses or Parliament in the UK, so everything has to be worded in a specific way. For a UK Politician to say this is the equivaent of saying 'You're all stark staring mad. Wake me when the sky lands.'
Submitted by Boffo97 - December 5, 2006 at 2:01 pm -0500
While I certainly agree with the sentiment, the argument expressed is a fallacious one.

Let's suppose you own a candy store. And some punk kids keep stealing your candy, so you call the cops. And the cops say "Well, what's more important? Murders or stolen candy?"

The obvious answer is murders, but that doesn't mean we should dedicate ALL resources to solving every murder in the world before we begin to worry about enforcing the laws on stolen candy.
Submitted by Brer - December 5, 2006 at 4:53 pm -0500
Besides, we have to remember that the excuse of going after child porn is far and away the -Best- one for passing overly broad laws leading to the abuse of government powers, invasion of privacy, and violation of due process ;) Video Game Violence just doesn't have the same power over the emotions of the public.
Submitted by Daniel - December 5, 2006 at 5:03 pm -0500
This is ridiculous. Violent video games are no threat to anyone. When are people going to realize that? This idea is bogus and needs to be put down. These games are not harmful to anyone and have never caused any real world violence ever.
Submitted by Samantha - December 5, 2006 at 5:06 pm -0500
While I like the idea of people getting their priorities right, I think it's a bit extreme to compare child pornography to video games in any context. One is an abusive, illegal act at the very extreme end of the 'crime' spectrum, and the other is, at its core, an entertainment medium that's got a lot of bad press lately. Apples and oranges springs to mind.
Submitted by Azradesh - December 6, 2006 at 2:54 am -0500
More like apples and slug turds :D
Submitted by ZippyDSMlee - December 6, 2006 at 3:16 pm -0500
Porn is porn child porn is rape and games are like any other media.
Submitted by Stefan - December 6, 2006 at 8:22 pm -0500
"The German and Italian governments enforce an outright ban on certain types of content?"

No. Technically not.
The German laws regarding that are the strictest in the western world, but they are nearly always overstated by people who don't know them.

Very, very, very few games are outright banned. And the ones who are generally deserve it.
The worst that can happen is that games are put on a list of media that can't be openly sold or advertised. But adults can still legally buy them. They are just a bit harder to get. But these days you don't need to deal with stocks in some closed backroom anymore and just order them over the internet. Either over local companies were they ask for an age verification or simply abroad (shipping doesn't cost any more there either).
18+ games can even be sold openly in shops

The downside is that games are often self-censored by the PUBLISHERS to get a 16+ rating.
The problem is more the enforcement of the current laws as young people can buy the games in shops relatively easily

Sometimes it feels restrictive to not just be able to walk into a shop and buy an uncut version of some games, but it's also not as bad as foreigners think
Submitted by PerfectVictim - December 7, 2006 at 12:08 pm -0500
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